No thanks to an injury, of which the details are still unknown, Cristiano Ronaldo will play no part in this evening’s Manchester derby. This meeting would be the seconding meeting this season, the first seeing the Blues getting an easy 2-0 win over the Reds at Old Trafford. Though Man utd have been going through an undulating form in recent times, they would seek to have an impressive evening or risk falling out of the top 4 race.
To further complicate issues an injury crisis that has also ruled out Edinson Cavani and centre-back Raphael Varane.
United fans would be disappointed as they hoped Cristiano who is United’s top scorer with 15 goals in all competitions this season would feature in a match-up as important and decisive as this. Marcus Rashford, however is expected to fill in for the trip to Etihad as Ralf Rangnick’s side hope to get a victory to remain in contention for a fourth-place finish.
Also expected to play a role is Anthony Elanga who has impressed in recent games.
In their 49 Premier League meetings, United have won 24 against City’s 16 and it ended in a draw on nine occasions.
Manchester United are looking to win four consecutive matches in all competitions at Manchester City for the first time since between November 1993 and November 2000 while City are looking to complete the league double over Man Utd for just the second time under Pep Guardiola, having previously done so in 2018/19.