Erik ten Hag predicted to introduce Man United fan favourite vs Man City

Erik ten Hag is expected to make just one change as Manchester United travel to face Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

After a successful 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday evening, Manchester United return to Premier League action as they face three-time reigning league champions Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

André Onana, who kept a clean sheet and made some important saves against Forest, will retain his place in goal as he becomes one of Erik ten Hag‘s more consistent performers in 2024.

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However, the big problems come when United look to arrange their defensive line, with only three first-team defenders fit and available to play.

Against Forest, due to injuries, Ten Hag played a back four of Diogo Dalot, Raphaël Varane, Victor Lindelöf, and Sofyan Amrabat, with the latter fulling in at left-back due to the absences of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.

This line-up is what Ten Hag is expected to go with during the Sunday afternoon kick-off, as Harry Maguire is not expected to be fit to face the tie.

In midfield, United are likely to see the return of fan-favourite Kobbie Mainoo to the midfield in place of Scott McTominay, with the young Englishman becoming a mainstay in Ten Hag’s team alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes.

In attack, United are also depleted after the losses of Rasmus Højlund and Anthony Martial, and no changes are expected.

Marcus Rahsford will likely be played through the centre to try and take advantage of City’s high line, while Alejandro Garnacho and Antony are predicted to star on the left and right wins, respectively, due to their high work rates in what will be an intense fixture.

Predicted XI

Onana, Dalot, Varane, Lindelöf, Amrabat, Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes, Antony, Rashford, Garnacho.