Expected lineup Man City vs MU: Red Devils have the strongest lineup

The clash between Manchester City and Manchester United has always been one of the most dramatic in Premier League history. This weekend's Manchester derby will be no exception, with both teams having their fair share of injury and fitness issues. While United's squad is fairly stable, City have some big problems, particularly in defence.

Expected lineup Man City vs MU

Man City (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Dias, Simpson-Pusey, Gvardiol; De Bruyne, Kovacic; Silva, Foden, Nunes; Haaland

MU (3-4-2-1): Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez; Diallo, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot; Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund

Man City: Patchwork defense and absence of key players

Pep Guardiola will face a huge challenge in preparing his squad for the Manchester derby, especially in defence. Serious injuries to Rodri, Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake mean they will not be back before 2025, leaving a huge hole in the City squad. Furthermore, the fact that Manuel Akanji and John Stones will not be fit in time for the game will leave Guardiola with some tough decisions to make.

Guardiola is likely to have to use a young player with no Premier League experience at centre-back to cover for the absentees. Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, a promising young centre-back, or Josh Wilson-Esbrand, a left-back, could also be given a chance to start in this important match. This is a unique situation for Guardiola as he has to get used to bringing young talent to the big stage.

However, while the defense is struggling, Man City also received good news about the squad. Mateo Kovacic, a key player in the midfield, has returned from injury and may be given a chance to start. This will be an important addition to help Man City have more strength in the midfield area, something they need in an important match like the derby.

Manchester United: Stability and tactical changes from Amorim

In contrast to Man City, Manchester United's squad for this derby will not have many absences. Manager Ruben Amorim will be without Luke Shaw and Jonny Evans due to injury, but otherwise his team has almost no major problems in terms of force. This gives Amorim more options when building the starting lineup.

However, with the likes of Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford having struggled in recent games, Amorim could make some big changes. It is expected that one of the attacking trio of Rasmus Højlund, Mason Mount or Alejandro Garnacho will start, with Garnacho likely to trouble City right-back Kyle Walker. It is also possible that Hojlund could be handed a starting spot over Rashford, who has been inconsistent.

Amorim will continue to experiment with different tactics, and could bring in players like Leny Yoro, while centre-back duo Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez will remain key options in defence.

Manchester derby: Expectations and challenges

This match is not only a confrontation between two giants of English football but also a big test for both coaches. For Man City, the lack of strength in defense will create big challenges, while United will have to prove their ability to overcome the shortcomings in the squad and improve the form of their attacking players.

Although Man City has home advantage and stability in their playing style, with the expected changes from Amorim and the players' inconsistent form, MU can still create a surprise in this match. After all, the Manchester derby is always full of surprises, and both teams will not miss the opportunity to win an important victory to boost their morale before the next challenges.