Manchester United face their biggest challenge of 2023 when they face arch-rivals Manchester City in the Premier League. We at Last Word on Football have put together a Manchester United predicted lineup for the Manchester Derby as they aim to move closer to their rivals in the table.
Manchester United Predicted Lineup vs Manchester City
👣 On the move. #MUFC || #MUNMCI pic.twitter.com/uQj97qHeRC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 12, 2023
How Manchester United Have Lined-up Recently
Erik ten Hag’s side has been in hot form since the season resumed after the end of the Qatar World Cup. They have won all their last eight games in all competitions and have been able to move just four points behind City in the Premier League table. That means a win at Old Trafford on Saturday will take them a point closer to their rivals.
Despite the surprising exit of Cristiano Ronaldo in November, United have not let their form drop and have arguably become better in the last few weeks. Ten Hag appears to have found his perfect starting lineup that should be played against City, with Anthony Martial taking up the number nine position after recovering from his injury issues.
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Marcus Rashford’s been in amazing form, having scored in his last eight consecutive games for the Red Devils. Antony appears to have rediscovered his form with two goals in his last two appearances, while the midfield line of Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen and Casemiro has found impressive chemistry.
At the back, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane have formed an unbreakable partnership – while Luke Shaw is flying high too. Aaron Wan-Bissaka has also rediscovered his form this year. Burnley forward Wout Weghorst has completed his move to Old Trafford, but he’s unlikely to feature in this.
Manchester United Recent Form and Tactics
Since their crushing loss to Aston Villa at Villa Park in early November, the Red Devils have picked up their form in impressive fashion. They’ve won their last eight games since then, including their last four Premier League games. Moreover, United have also been in amazing form at Old Trafford – scoring 18 goals in their last five games, winning all of them in dominant fashion.
They also face a City side that are coming at the back of a shocking loss to Southampton in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup. Ten Hag’s side will aim to capitalise on that and get revenge for the embarrassing 6-3 loss they suffered at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season.
United have been in smashing form this year and appear to have found their groove under the new gaffer. There is a lot more flexibility and freedom in terms of their attacking moves, with the forward line being given a lot of room to manoeuvre. Rashford is flying on confidence, making dangerous runs through the wings and being ruthless with his finishing.
Martial is the one responsible for the hold-up play and linking all the attacks together, while he also gets plenty of delivery to score goals. Fernandes and Eriksen are the creative beacons that kick-start all the moves, with Casemiro being the destroyer who wins back possession and also looks to add an X-Factor to his side’s game with his clever defence-splitting passes.
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United obviously need to be stronger defensively, knowing the kind of attacking pedigree that their rivals possess. Varane and Martinez will have their hands full with Erling Haaland, while the full-backs have to work double-time to stop City’s flow through the wings and Casemrio needs to man-mark Kevin de Bruyne out of the game.
The Red Devils will be focused on hitting their rivals on the counter-attack and use their pace as well as the flexibility to trouble them. Their frontline has to be clinical and take their chances perfectly for United to continue their winning run as well as further dampen the mood of their rivals.
Manchester United Injuries to Consider
Diogo Dalot got injured in United’s last game against Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup and is a major doubt for this match. Donny van de Beek is also out after suffering a knee injury, while Jadon Sancho remains sidelined as he’s still not ‘physically and mentally’ ready, as per Ten Hag.
Manchester United Predicted Lineup
David de Gea, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Antony, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial
