Predicted Starting Line-Up: Manchester City vs Manchester United (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City return to competitive duties off the back of the first international break of the new season with a mammoth clash in the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad were handed a timely break from action at the end of August having followed up their opening weekend 0-4 win over Wolves with back-to-back defeats at the hands of Tottenham and Brighton & Hove Albion.

With the focus placed firmly on international commitments, largely through FIFA World Cup qualification contests ahead of the 2026 edition of the tournament, a number of strong performances will be useful for confidence when returning to work in Manchester.

The club’s next challenge is a home clash against bitter rivals Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium – the first of four huge contests when it comes to the club’s early hopes of silverware success come the end of the campaign.

The Champions League gets underway in the league phase days later through the visit of Napoli, before City travel to North London for a Premier League encounter, closing off the quartet of games with a Carabao Cup third round meeting away to Huddersfield Town.

Pep Guardiola has likely been sweating over his team’s fitness in light of the international break, with John Stones and Omar Marmoush among a growing list of names struggling with injury problems.

Ahead of Manchester City’s upcoming Premier League clash against Manchester United, here is how we predict Pep Guardiola will line-up his side at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon!

Predicted XI

The No.1 spot between the posts at Manchester City is set for an intense battle following the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma, but we believe Pep Guardiola could lean towards consistency and continuation in the immediate with a start for James Trafford on Sunday.

Right-back continues to be an area up for debate and uncertainty, and while Rico Lewis will be buoyed following his new five-year contract extension until 2030, Matheus Nunes may be entrusted this weekend.

Operating in the centre of defence, we believe Abdukodir Khusanov could partner Ruben Dias, with the Uzbekistan international recovering from a minor muscular problem sustained in the 2-1 defeat to Brighton.

With Rayan Ait-Nouri ruled out of the first game back following the international break, Pep Guardiola is likely to grant Josko Gvardiol his first start of the season from the left-sided full-back position that he impressed in on various occasions last campaign.

At the base of Manchester City’s midfield, there is no greater option than Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who will be keen to feature in all of the club’s biggest contests this season following his frustrations through injury during the last season.

Further forward, we think Pep Guardiola could opt for a balance of legs and energy, in addition to experience and control in one of the calendar’s biggest fixtures, with Tijjani Reijnders alongside club captain Bernardo Silva.

Things get slightly trickier in the forward line following the returns of both Savinho and Phil Foden, although we think there could be continuation on the right of a front-three with Oscar Bobb starting once again.

At striker, there is no other option than Erling Haaland to lead the line, particularly off the back of a five-goal haul against Moldova whilst on duty for Norway – a game that also saw the City star provide two assists.

That leaves the left-hand side up for grabs, and following some similarly promising performances during the international break, we anticipate that Jeremy Doku could be granted a start at the Etihad Stadium.

Starting XI: Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri, Reijnders, Bernardo; Bobb, Haaland, Doku.

Substitutes: Donnarumma, Lewis, Stones, Ake, Nico, O’Reilly, Kovacic, Savinho, Foden.