Man City XI vs Manchester United: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Premier League today | OneFootball

Marc Guehi not yet signed as Pep Guardiola still battles defensive crisis for derby

Manchester City are still dealing with plenty of injury problems as they prepare for today’s derby clash with Manchester United.

Pep Guardiola’s side have suffered a real fitness crisis of late, particularly at centre-back, and that has been a factor in their falling off the pace in the Premier League title race.

City are now six points adrift of league leaders Arsenal at the top.

They are without three key central defenders - Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and John Stones - with the trio all ruled out long-term.

It leaves Guardiola with just Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov as his only senior centre-backs, while Max Alleyne has been recalled from his loan spell at Watford.

The situation has led to City agreeing a deal with Crystal Palace for Marc Guehi, with Oliver Glasner confirming that the Eagles skipper’s switch to the Etihad Stadium is in the “final stages”.

Out wide, Oscar Bobb and Savinho have suffered injuries, but that double blow has been softened slightly by Antoine Semenyo’s goalscoring start to his City career.

In goal, you can expect Gianluigi Donnarumma to play after he was given a rest in the 10-1 decimation of Exeter in the FA Cup.

Guardiola was on a minutes-managing mission in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg tie against Newcastle in midweek, with Rodri playing just half an hour in a bid to ease the Spaniard slowly back into the swing of things after his long lay-off.

In defence, however, City are bare bones, and you would expect the quartet that started at St James’ Park to do so again at Old Trafford.

Matheus Nunes will be the right-back, and you would think that Ake will move centrally to replace Alleyne alongside Khusanov at the heart of the back four.

Nico O’Reilly played in defensive midfield on Tyneside, but should shift back into the left-back berth to allow Rodri to slot back in.

Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference that Nico Gonzalez would undergo a fitness test to determine his availability for the derby.

Ahead of them, Bernardo Silva played the full 90 minutes in the Carabao Cup, while Phil Foden played as the right-sided No8, but was sacrificed for Tijjani Reijnders just after the hour.

Reijnders could replace Silva in the derby, while Rayan Cherki made an impact off the bench at Newcastle, scoring having replaced Jeremy Doku late on.

Rayan Ait-Nouri played for two minutes following his return from the Africa Cup of Nations in a welcome boost to City’s defensive ranks, but it would seem unlikely for him to be thrown straight back into the action.

Up top, Erling Haaland will be looking to get back amongst the goals after a run of only one in his past six matches.

Omar Marmoush is still on AFCON duty with Egypt despite their semi-final defeat by Senegal, with the Pharaohs taking on Nigeria in Saturday’s third-place play-off.

Predicted Man City XI (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, O’Reilly; Rodri; Semenyo, Foden, Reijnders, Doku; Haaland

Doubt: Gonzalez

Injured: Gvardiol, Dias, Stones, Savinho, Bobb, Kovacic

Unavailable: Marmoush (AFCON)

Time and date: 12.30pm GMT on Saturday January 17, 2026

Venue: Old Trafford

How to watch: Sky Sports