Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. An age old saying, perhaps best understood by fans in Manchester at this point of time. The glamour capital of the Premier League with Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho at the helm of two clubs who have spent the maximum amount of money and assembled enviable squads seemingly capable of dismantling the rest of the teams in the Premier League and in the process reducing the title race into a two-team affair.
But things aren’t so easy, are they ever? City find themselves winless in 5 matches while Jose Mourinho is quickly seeing his mojo slip away at the Old Trafford.
A while on from when things went haywire for the two teams, they cross paths once again. The occasion being the 4th round of the EFL Cup. If the managers had earmarked this fixture as an opportunity to test their bench strength, there might be a rethink on that line of thought with confidence at an all-time low in both the camps.
Pep Guardiola has the added pressure of a match against Barcelona next week, where the failure to bag any points will serve a huge blow to their chances of qualifying from the group stage of the Champions League. With another must-win game this weekend in the League, Pep would have loved to rotate in this fixture, with slightly less amount of pressure on acquiring a positive result.
T40’S PREDICTED MANCHESTER CITY LINE-UP VS MANCHESTER UNITED (4-1-4-1)
DEFENCE
With Bravo suspended for next week’s Barca test, it will be interesting to see Pep’s choice for the keeper’s slot against United. We can see Bravo being given a game as his understanding with the City backline still needs polishing. Maffeo might be a surprise inclusion at right-back if Pep decided to revert to a back four. Stones and Otamendi will most likely form the centre-back pairing although Kolarov presents an option. Clichy might get a game at left back.
MIDFIELD
Fernando looks good for a game with Aleix Garcia a possibility alongside David Silva in the No.8 roles. De Bruyne’s injury will see him miss the match with Gundogan probably given an off.
ATTACK
Jesus Navas is a strong contender for the right-wing role, where he will lend balance while Nolito looks likely to get a game on the opposite flank having appeared for a couple of minutes against the Saints. Kelechi Iheanacho is likely to step in for Sergio Aguero in the lone striker role.
