Game Week 10 Predictions: United to shock City at Old Trafford

Manchester Derby preview: United aiming for upset against City, key battles in midfield. #ManchesterDerby

It's a battle of the pretenders at this stage with City struggling and United dishing panic attacks to their fans on per match basis, how will this play out? (Photo credit: GOAL)

 

Manchester United vs. Manchester City

Old Trafford

4:30pm

It’s the latest installment of the Manchester Derby, and all eyes will be on the hosts, who have won three times on the bounce for the first time this season, but they have to do something special against their city rivals.

The visitors are still bleeding from recent results, but they found joy in Europe in midweek and were able to return to winning ways in the league last weekend. The Manchester Derby is a different ball game; they have to approach with caution.

United has managed strong results against Manchester City in the past, and as recent as last season, United won 2-1 at Old Trafford after trailing in the game. It’s a sort of result you won’t be surprised to see in games like this one.

Manchester City had gone three domestic games on the bounce without a result until the slim home win over Brighton, but they saw off Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League and will be entering this one on a high.

Casemiro is pushing to start; he’s confident he has healed from the knock he picked recently, but the likes of Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, and Tyrel Malacia are long-term absentees, with Jadon Sancho being frozen out due to his issues with Erik Ten Hag.

Manchester City will be without Manuel Akanji, who got sent off in the game against Brighton, but the visitors have just enough to cover for the former Borussia Dortmund man. Kevin De Bruyne is another absentee, a long-term one, as he’s not expected back until January.

It’s a game to savor; both sides will go for it, and with United always finding ways to pull up surprises in this fixture, don’t put anything past them. The champions need a win, and a big one too, considering the number of goals the Gunners scored on Saturday.

Expect key battles in the midfield. Rodri is the man in the middle, and United will hope Casemiro is fit to take him on. Sofyan Amrabat will have it all to do, but Scott McTominay’s purple patch will face a stiff test on Sunday.

Andre Onana was an unlikely hero on Tuesday with a late penalty save, and Harry Maguire has been a different player since coming on to deputize for the injured defenders. He has it all to do against City as they hope to climb as high as 6^th on the log with a win at home.

Verdict: United to win or draw