Manchester United vs Manchester City. Premier League.
Old Trafford.
Anthony Martial fit to return, Edinson Cavani to be assessed after returning to training, Sergio Aguero likely to begin on bench; follow Manchester United vs Manchester City on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 5pm on Saturday; kick-off 5.30pm
Saturday 12 December 2020 17:00, UK
Team news, stats and prediction ahead of Manchester United vs Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday, live on Sky Sports (kick-off 5.30pm).
Anthony Martial is available and Edinson Cavani could return for Manchester United.
The attacking duo missed Tuesday's costly Champions League loss at RB Leipzig with "minor niggles", but manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Martial will "definitely be involved" and Cavani will be assessed after returning to training.
Luke Shaw managed 61 minutes on his return from a hamstring issue in Germany, where David de Gea replaced Dean Henderson in goal after missing last weekend's win at West Ham through injury. Fred comes back into the fold having been suspended for United's Champions League decider.
Manchester City's record goalscorer Sergio Aguero is not ready to start the derby.
The Argentinian was on target as he returned from a knee injury as a substitute against Marseille in midweek and any action this weekend will again be off the bench.
Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has recovered from a blow to the ankle but defender Eric Garcia faces a couple of weeks on the sidelines with a knock.
Manchester United vs Manchester City will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 5pm on Saturday; kick-off at 5.30pm. Sky Sports customers can watch in-game clips in the live match blog on the Sky Sports website and app. Free highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.
At least 146 Premier League games will be shown live on Sky Sports in the 2020/21 season. The Premier League has further increased the number of televised games this season from 200 to 231, with over half of the extra fixtures set to be shown live on Sky Sports.
Overall, Sky Sports will be showing at least 146 Premier League matches live throughout the 2020/21 season, continuing to bring you all the latest twists, turns and shocks at the home of the Premier League.
There will also be two additional midweek programmes - one will be played across the weeks commencing January 11 and 18 and the second will be in the week commencing May 10. All of these games will be broadcast live.
You can also follow the action with our dedicated live blogs on the Sky Sports website and app, and watch free match highlights from every game shortly after full-time on our digital platforms and YouTube channel.
This is a real conundrum.
Up until Tuesday night, I was all set to lead this prediction piece on why Manchester United should be backed at 4/1 to beat Manchester City. But I've got cold feet. No one can seriously trust this United side after a quite shambolic defensive performance in the 3-2 defeat at Leipzig, following up an equally stodgy showing at West Ham.
Prior to those performances, at the back United had been holding up well. Since shipping six at Spurs, they officially had been the most defensively sound team in the Premier League, conceding the fewest goals (3), facing the joint-fewest amount of shots (34) and producing an 'expected goals against' figure of just 3.14 - the lowest figure of any Premier League side for that period.
So, their sudden decline is making my investment on them winning the Premier League look like the act of a maniac.
But I suppose this is the modern-day Manchester United. They are an inconsistent beast. Will I be shocked out of my seat if they beat City on Saturday? Absolutely not.
But surely Pep Guardiola will be ready for the United counter that sent them to victory three times against City last season. There have been signs that we're seeing a more defensively disciplined City, one that perhaps won't allow United space to work in. They have faced the least amount of shots (78) and shots on target (28) of any Premier League team this season and only Chelsea have a better 'expected goals against' figure (10.19).
There also is a trend developing of fixtures between 'big six' rivals producing fewer goals than the market expectation. In the last seven fixtures this season, the average xG figure for total goals has been just 1.6 with all seven matches producing fewer than 2.5 goals. It's that time of the season where avoiding defeat is perhaps more important than winning the game and it's resulting in risk-averse football.
A Manchester City win and under 2.5 goals in the match makes plenty of appeal at 7/2.
JONES KNOWS PREDICTS: 0-1 (7/1 with Sky Bet)
This week on the Pitch to Post Preview Podcast, Peter Smith is joined by Sky Sports News reporters James Cooper and Ben Ransom to discuss the Manchester derby, including whether David de Gea will be dropped, why John Stones is back in the City side, and how it could all play out.
Their colleague Michael Bridge is on the line to discuss Crystal Palace vs table-toppers Tottenham, plus Sky Sports Data Editor Adam Smith has the numbers behind Arsenal's attack and Liverpool's strength in depth - as well as his Pitch for what will happen in the Premier League this weekend!
Listen to the Sky Sports Pitch to Post Podcast on: Spotify | Apple | Castbox
