The first Manchester derby is upon us as Man City travel to face U***** on Sunday. The Blues have started their season in superb style, winning their opening three EPL games, as well as their Champions League opener against Porto last time out.
City sit top of the Premier League standings and a win against U***** could extend that lead. Look, it's not going to be easy, the Red quarter of Manchester often turn up against us, despite the fact that they're simply not a very good side anymore. Defensively, they're laughable. And if it wasn't for Bruno Fernandes, they'd be playing Championship football by now.
The Blues were beaten last time out at Old Trafford in the worst performance I've see City give in years. This time should be different.
I used to go into derby days full of anxiety, just hoping and praying we didn't get battered. Now, I go into derby days full of anxiety because losing a derby is like getting beat by Port Vale or something. We're a far superior side but U***** are proper jammy and what should be an easy three points for us can sometimes turn out, well, not that way.
In our September Schedule article, I said we should win all of our games this month. We've won the first two, God I hope we win this one as well.
It is Enzo Maresca's first real big test in charge of the mighty Blues. Blue goggles off, away at Old Trafford can be a tough game. While there's still some who might be questioning Maresca's credentials, a win in the derby would put a lot of those doubts to rest.
So, onto our Man City v U***** probable line up. Elliot Anderson should come back in after dropping to the bench for the Porto game. Nico O' Reilly should be fit, whether he starts or not is up for debate. Personally, I'd start him at left back and have a midfield two of Anderson and Enzo Fernandez. Ayyoub Bouaddi was superb against Porto but a midfield due of Anderson and Fernandez is a perfect derby day pair.
If O' Reilly does start, it will be Gvardiol dropping to the bench. I love Josko, he was poor though against Porto. The backline is likely to be Abdukodir Khusanov, Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi and one of Gvardiol and O' Reiily. I'd choose O' Reilly.
Our forward line is likely to be the same as it was against Porto, with Phil Foden continuing. The issue with this is Antoine Semenyo out on the left, with Jeremy Doku unlikely to be fit. Semenyo on the right hand side is scintillating. Semenyo on the left hand side is strangely poor.
Rayan Cherki should continue with Erling Haaland, of course, up top.
That's one heck of a derby day lineup!
Man City predicted lineup against U*****:
Gianluigi Donnarumma, Abdukodir Khusanov, Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi, Nico O' Reilly, Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernandez, Phil Foden, Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki, Erling Haaland
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