Manchester United vs Man City LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today
Follow all the reaction from Old Trafford after the Premier League champions took all three points in the derby
Under-fire Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces fresh scrutiny and pressure after Manchester City provided their latest Old Trafford humbling.
A fortnight on from the embarrassing 5-0 home humiliation at the hands of rivals Liverpool, the Red Devils fell to another one-sided defeat as they returned to the scene of the crime for the 186th Manchester derby.
Pep Guardiola’s men cruised to a victory far more comfortable than the 2-0 scoreline suggested, but Eric Bailly’s own goal and a preventable Bernardo Silva effort was enough to ease past United.
Solskjaer had called the loss to Liverpool the darkest day of his near three-year reign and the manner of this loss to their neighbours will lead to renewed pressure during the international break.
Man United 0-0 Man City
1 min: Or rather, a combination of De Bruyne and Bernardo - like we have seen at times in the past, such as City’s win at Real Madrid in the Champions League a couple of seasons ago.
City start off with a spell of possession, with United happy to drop into their shape.
KICK OFF! Man United 0-0 Man City
Bernardo Silva gets us underway after the players take the knee. Silva looks to be lining up as City’s false nine.
Manchester United vs Man City
The teams are at Old Trafford - kick off coming up in this huge Manchester derby!
Before kick off, both teams will pause and Old Trafford will fall silent ahead of Remembrance Sunday, as well as a moment of silence for Walter Smith.
Both Solskjaer and Guardiola lay wreaths at the touchline.
Manchester United vs Man City: Can Solskjaer do it again vs Guardiola?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has won four of his eight meetings with Pep Guardiola, which is the best record of any manager with a minimum of four matches against the Spaniard.
Some of those wins have ranked amongst Solskjaer’s best days in charge of United - such as the two wins the Red Devils secured over City in 2019-20.
In those games, United thrived on the counter attack - sitting back in their 3-5-2 formation and hitting with pace on the break.
Indeed, before United’s 3-0 win at Spurs last weekend, the last time United had played a back three under Solskjaer was the 2-0 win over City at Old Trafford in March 2020.
Can Solskjaer repeat the trick today?
Manchester United vs Man City: Why the derby will revolve around Ronaldo
Imagine if Ronaldo had been lining up for Manchester City at Old Trafford today. For a few hours at least, back in August, that thought looked as if it might have come to fruition.
Since returning to United, it seems as if everything has revolved around the 36-year-old. His goals have kept them in the Champions League, and are perhaps keeping Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in a job.
But despite the late goals, the inevitable heroics, there are understandable questions about whether his presence in the United team makes them weaker overall.
Either way, as Miguel Delaney writes, everything will revolve around Ronaldo once again this afternoon.
The Manchester derby will revolve around Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo has been United’s problem and problem-solver and so much of Saturday’s derby will depend on the talisman who’s repeatedly rescued Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side this season
Manchester United vs Man City: Sancho still searching for right role
It’s notable that Jadon Sancho not featuring in United’s starting line-up is barely even a talking point ahead of kick off.
Few would have predicted that when the 21-year-old sealed his long-awaited move to United this summer from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of around £80 million.
Sancho’s starting the Manchester derby would also have been an intriguing sub-plot, given his history with City.
But, as Mark Critchley writes, the winger is still searching for the right role as his frustrating start to his Old Trafford career is set to continue, unless he is able to make an impact from the bench today.
Jadon Sancho still searching for right role ahead of Man City reunion
Sancho in need of regular minutes and a suitable tactical role in order to kick-start United career
Manchester United vs Man City: Team news
Solskjaer on his team selection: “I always thought [Lindelof] was going to make it but we’ve had a couple of issues since Italy. Edi [Cavani] was one of them. Marcus [Rashford] was only cleared this morning but he has made the bench of hopefully if he needs to can come on.
“Mason [Greenwood] has been one of the big plusses this season. It’s a big chance for him. We know it’s going to be a difficult one and we have to be at our best.”
Manchester United vs Man City: Team news
Manchester United stick with their back three, with Victor Lindelof passing a late fitness test to start alongside Harry Maguire and Eric Bailey, who keeps his place from midweek. Marcus Rashford drops to the bench, while there is no Edinson Cavani in the squad. Rashford has been ill for a couple of days, so Mason Greenwood gets the nod.
As reported by Miguel Delaney, there’s no Jack Grealish in the City starting line-up. It looks like Kevin De Bruyne will lead the line, with perhaps Phil Foden taking Grealish’s spot on the left. John Stones comes in for the suspended Aymeric Laporte, while Raheem Sterling still has to make do with a spot on the City bench.
Manchester United vs Man City: Team news
Manchester United: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, Fernandes, Greenwood, Ronaldo
Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Cancelo, Rodri, Gundogan, Bernardo, De Bruyne, Jesus, Foden
Manchester United vs Man City
Wow.
Jack Grealish has been dropped by Pep Guardiola for the Manchester derby, according to The Independent’s Miguel Delaney.
The only Premier League match Grealish hasn’t started for City since arriving for a British transfer record fee this summer was the 2-0 win over Burnley on October 16.
The England international has gone eight matches without a goal for the Premier League champions in all competitions.
We’ll bring you more as we get it.
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