22-y/o Starts As Guardiola Makes 4 Changes | Expected Man City Line-Up vs Man Utd

Manchester City will be looking to cement their position at the top of the table with a positive result when they take on Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Here is the team we think Pep Guardiola will select.

Goalkeeper: I don’t think there can be much debate over who will start between the sticks for City as Ederson is certain to keep his place this weekend. Youngster Arijanet Muric will continue to deputise on the bench in place of the injured Claudio Bravo.

Defence: Guardiola is likely to make a couple of changes in defence with Vincent Kompany in-line for a recall after being rested for the Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek. Aymeric Laporte is expected to keep his place after another accomplished performance so John Stones may be the man to make way while Nicolas Otamendi faces a late fitness test on a muscle injury.

Oleksandr Zinchenko started at left-back in the Champions League in midweek but I think we’ll see Benjamin Mendy recalled on Sunday while Kyle Walker is certain to retain his place on the opposite side of the back four.

Midfield: Fernandinho has continued to be a firm favourite under Guardiola this season so he’ll continue in the holding role against United while David Silva will continue to pull the strings in a central playmaker role.

Obviously City will have to make-do without influential star Kevin De Bruyne after he was ruled out for several weeks with a knee ligament injury so Bernardo Silva should continue alongside Fernandinho and Silva with Ilkay Gundogan having to settle for a place on the bench.

Attack: Gabriel Jesus scored a hat-trick against Shakhtar last time out so he’ll be hoping he’s done enough to keep his place up front but I think it’s safe to say Sergio Aguero will be recalled after being rested in Europe. It will be harsh on Jesus but I don’t see Guardiola leaving Aguero out of the derby.

Riyad Mahrez has enjoyed a fine season so far and got himself on the score-sheet against Shakhtar but I think Guradiola will be tempted to rotate with Leroy Sane getting recalled. The 22-year-old didn’t feature in midweek so he’ll be fresh.

All eyes were on Raheem Sterling following his controversial penalty on Wednesday night but the England international also showed his class with a stunning goal and he should keep his place in the attack against United.

Here is how I think we’ll see City line-up: