PREMIER LEAGUE football is back after another dreary international break.
And the highlight of this weekend’s action is undoubtedly the mouthwatering Manchester derby on Sunday.
City vs United is one of the top fixtures of the season.
But there could be some huge changes for both sides, with Pep Guardiola and Ruben Amorim each signing a new goalkeeper on deadline day.
Will Gianluigi Donnarumma and Senne Lammens get their first taste of English football action in one of world football’s biggest games?
SunSport’s tactical expert Dean Scoggins dives into another brilliant analysis…
NEW GOALKEEPER ‘TRAP’ BATTLE
I reckon both teams will be nervous about potential debuts for their goalies! But United fans should be the most nervous about what decision gets made.
City don’t cross it very much so that’s one thing in favour of sticking with Altay Bayindir over Senne Lammens.
Another thing in his favour is United have learned to play out with him, and Amorim may decide to leave Lammens out.
With Gianluigi Donnarumma, City don’t have to worry about mistakes, he will make stacks of saves, he’s absolutely class.
But what they should be nervous about is how they’re going to cope with playing out.
Pep’s hardly going to stop playing out from the back, but Donnarumma is perceived to not be great with his feet, which could give James Trafford a chance.
Tactically, United will play 3-4-3 and when they’re pressing from the front, they almost slot into a 4-4-2 diamond.
We’ll expect City to drop the centre-backs in and push the full-backs on. You’d then think the goalie plays over the top.
But United will put real pressure on then. The striker will drop on City’s No6 to stop him getting the ball.
They will then press either side with curved runs to block off Donnarumma’s channels.
United want to set a trap by leaving a City player free — they want Donnarumma to play to him.
When he hits it, United are going to shuffle across. It’s a trigger for a press. And City fans will be very nervous in that playing-out scenario.
United should be willing to take that risk to make Donnarumma play those passes, and that could mean a lot of joy.
As for Lammens, he looks really confident on the ball. He puts his foot on the ball to bait people in.
But with City’s set-up, they leave United’s 8’s for a trap. That could see them take advantage of United playing out with a new inexperienced goalie.
I’m a bit nervous if Lammens goes straight in, it takes time on the training ground to prepare these things.
They’ve been very brave with Bayindir so far. Lammens is very confident on the ball but it takes time to get used to set-ups in the Premier League.
WHAT SYSTEM WILL PEP USE?
We’ve seen 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 so far. That’s with 11 injuries.
In attack they want to be in a 3-2-5 shape. But what they’ve done quite a lot this season, not successfully, is get into a 2-3-5 shape with a full-back moving in.
But up against Bryan Mbeumo, and with injuries, I’d be nervous about that shape.
Nathan Ake could come in for a back three, but I think Bernardo Silva will be the key man in this game with his interchanging.
Tottenham and Brighton had loads of joy against City by leaving four up top.
I think City will use Matheus Nunes as a generic right-back with two in midfield like a 4-2-4 shape.
As for United, I think Amad Diallo will play on the left of attack, with Noussair Mazraoui at right wing-back.
There’s a question mark over midfield, is it two or one at the base? It depends on injuries.
HOW WILL MAN UTD ATTACK?
It’s a 3-5-2, but will Amorim start Sesko? United have been the most direct team in the league this season.
They’ve had the most direct chances but haven’t scored one yet.
Mbeumo’s gone close so that’s what they’re going to do.
I think Sesko has to play just for his physicality. Spurs used Richarlison to great effect against City.
If Cunha isn’t fit, you don’t want Mbeumo moved from the right. Don’t make two changes for the sake of one.
If Mount is out too, does Diallo go to the left? You’ve got other options at wing-back.
Diallo turned the game on its head last season and made a fool of Matheus Nunes so can do that job.
United will form diamonds and triangles all over the pitch. It gives them options on either side.
But they’ve particularly liked overloading the left side this season.
That leaves Mbeumo to isolate his defender, with the ball going in behind for him to attack the space.
City have been susceptible to balls over the top and have conceded twice from them so far.
United are having more of the ball on the left, but attacking more on the right. That will be the move they want to get.
That’s something for United fans to lick their lips over in attack.
Long passes are back in fashion. City have been more direct and United are now doing it too.
I fancy United to get some joy in this.
DO RODRI AND NICO BOTH PLAY?
I think they should in this game. Reijnders was outstanding against Wolves but got overrun by Spurs physically and caught out against Brighton.
Because City get greedy with position, a midfielder move forward and the other has a lot of space to cover.
Rodri can’t cover that space, especially after his injury.
I think both Rodri and Nico Gonzalez should play as the two, with Bernardo Silva the key on the right as the most flexible player.
He can come inside and bring Nunes forward, forcing Dorgu back.
In the direct way of playing and how open they’ve been, it should be a two.
Also, Pep Ljinders. City are pressing more with him as assistant.
It leaves space open for balls over the top, while City have also been playing a very high line.
It’s too much space so two are needed to make it solid. Trust your attackers to break down United.
If they are struggling, take over Nico and bring on a winger. But start with a solid base.
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