Manchester City Vs Manchester United – Line-ups, injury news, tactics, preview and prediction

Rooney, Van Persie and Kagawa – will they all start?

As mentioned, both sides had European excursions in the week and so both managers played largely full strength sides, keen to get off to the best possible start. With next to no known injuries obtained, it is thought both teams will be mostly unchanged.

Shinji Kagawa is likely to drop to the bench for United after his first start all season, whilst an excellent display at right back by Chris Smalling means he is likely to keep his place in the back four, even though it is not his favoured nor strongest position.

As for City, Gael Clichy is the only absentee because of a hamstring strain and Aleksandar Kolarov will continue to deputise in his absence. Vincent Kompany made a comeback from injury against Viktoria Plzen and it is also anticipated he will be fit enough to start.

The probable line-ups, then, are as follows:

City (4-4-2) - Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastastic, Kolarov; Milner, Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, Navas; Aguero, Dzeko.

United (4-2-3-1) – de Gea; Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Carrick, Fellaini; Valencia, Rooney, Young; van Persie.

Ref: Howard Webb

It all makes for a fascinating Super Sunday tea-time kick off and compelling viewing for any football fan. Howard Webb’s appointment as the man in the middle is the sensible one considering tempers and passions are likely to be near their boiling points on both sides of the touchline.

Come the final whistle, neither Moyes nor Pellegrini will complain about a point but fans will be desperate for three points and inter-city bragging rights, if only until the next time. The blue side of Manchester probably starts as slight favorites what with home advantage and having not conceded a goal at home all season.

However, the smart money is probably on a share of the spoils. With all the attacking talent on display, there will surely be a goal or two, so a safe bet is on a 1-1 or 2-2. And in all likelihood, that would allow both managers a more peaceful night’s sleep after their first ever Mancunian derby. Safe to say they will not have seen anything like it before.