Pep Guardiola’s men go into the weekend in strong form, but injuries and absences could play a big part when Manchester City face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.
City come into the match after beating Newcastle United 2-0 in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Tuesday.
That win extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches in all competitions and underlined their consistency during a busy period of the season.
The Sky Blues are second in the table, but their recent run of draws has slowed their title push.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are preparing for their first derby under new interim head coach Michael Carrick. The former midfielder has taken charge following a change in management and will be hoping to make a positive first impression in one of English football’s biggest matches.
United are seventh in the Premier League table, three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, as they chase a place in next season’s Champions League. A win over their local rivals would be a major boost to their confidence and league position.
However, both sides head into the derby with long injury lists and key players missing, which could shape the contest.
Manchester City injury worries ahead of Old Trafford test
Pep Guardiola’s squad has been stretched in recent weeks, especially in defence. Several senior players are unavailable as Manchester City face Manchester United at Old Trafford and others are still working their way back to full fitness.
Omar Marmoush will miss the derby because of international duty. The forward is currently representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.
With Egypt reaching the semi-finals, Marmoush is not expected to return until after the tournament ends on January 18. His possible return date has been listed as January 24, when City face Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Ruben Dias is another big absence. The central defender picked up a hamstring injury in the match against Chelsea and is expected to be out for around six weeks.
That injury makes a return before late February unlikely, with February 21, against Newcastle United, given as a possible comeback date.
Josko Gvardiol is facing a long spell on the sidelines. The defender suffered a tibial fracture in City’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea earlier this month.
He has since undergone surgery and begun a lengthy recovery process. There is currently no clear return date, and the injury is expected to keep him out for several months.
John Stones is also unavailable. The England international has not played since coming on as a substitute in a dramatic 5-4 win over Fulham at the start of December.
He is dealing with a thigh injury, and it remains unclear when he will be ready to return to action.
Savinho is another player missing for Guardiola. The Brazilian winger was forced off during the goalless draw against Sunderland on New Year’s Day.
It has since been confirmed that he will be sidelined for between six and eight weeks, although no exact return date has been set.
Oscar Bobb is making progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury. The young winger has been out since December 17 but is expected to return before the end of January. His possible comeback date is January 28, when City take on Galatasaray.
Mateo Kovacic continues to struggle with fitness issues. The midfielder had Achilles surgery in the summer and briefly returned in October.
However, a setback caused by calcification in his ankle and heel has limited him to just two appearances this season. There is no confirmed return date at this stage.
With so many defensive players missing, Guardiola may have to rely on squad depth and tactical flexibility to cope with United’s attack at Old Trafford.
Manchester United hope for boost despite absentees
As Manchester City face Manchester United at Old Trafford, the hosts also have selection problems as they prepare to face their neighbours.
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New interim coach Michael Carrick will be keen to start his reign with a strong performance, but injuries and international duty could limit his options.
Matthijs de Ligt is a major doubt for the match. The defender has missed United’s last nine games because of a back problem.
While his possible return date is listed as January 17, the day of the derby, his fitness will be assessed closer to kick-off. Even if he is passed fit, a lack of match sharpness could be a concern.
Noussair Mazraoui will definitely miss the game. The full-back is away with Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations and is set to feature in his country’s semi-final against Nigeria on Wednesday night.
Even if Morocco are knocked out at that stage, Mazraoui will not be available for Saturday’s match.
