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Apr 7, 2018 at 5.30pm UK
 
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Combined XI: Manchester City vs. Manchester United

:Headline: Combined XI: Manchester City vs. Manchester United: ID:322775: from db_amp
Sports Mole picks a combined XI from those expected to be available for this weekend's Manchester derby clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City will look to bounce back from their disappointing midweek display against Liverpool when they welcome Manchester United to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Citizens, beaten 3-0 at Anfield in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash, know that victory this weekend will seal a third Premier League title in seven seasons.

United may be unbeaten on their last two visits to this ground, but they have lost eight of the last 13 Manchester derbies in the league - as many as in the previous 49 encounters.

Ahead of this latest showdown, Sports Mole selects a combined XI from those expected to be available for the match.


Arguably the toughest choice of all comes in the number-one spot, where David de Gea and Ederson have been the two best performers in the Premier League this season. Ederson's arrival last summer has been one of the key reasons behind his side's hugely impressive campaign, but he still trails his direct rival when it comes to goals conceded and clean sheets kept, meaning that De Gea gets the nod in this side.

Antonio Valencia has become one of the English top flight's most consistent performers since being shifted into the full-back zone, boasting three goals and an assist this term alone, yet - much like Ederson behind him - the signing of Kyle Walker from Tottenham Hotspur has proved to be money well spent as the Englishman has played a key part for the treble-chasers. Left-back has been more of a problem for the champions-elect, meanwhile, with Fabian Delph, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Benjamin Mendy, Danilo and most recently Aymeric Laporte being used there, whereas Ashley Young has featured 30 times in all competitions.

Any hybrid side made up of Man City players surely must contain Vincent Kompany at the back, with the Belgian managing to put his injury struggles behind him of late to feature eight times over the past two months, either side of the international break. Eric Bailly would only look even more stable alongside Kompany, as the Ivorian has been responsible for six of United's clean sheets this term in his 10 appearances.

The big debate in central midfield concerns who gets the nod over Nemanja Matic and Fernandinho. The latter can argue that he has been just as important for City this term as any other player in the side due to his ability to let his midfield teammates carry the ball forward, but Matic has also looked incredibly solid for United, bar a tiny blip earlier in the season, and tends to be the one player devoid of any blame from Jose Mourinho. Alongside Matic, it is difficult to select anyone other than David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne - the duo creating chances at will for those in front of them all season, and indeed chipping in with goals of their own.

Sergio Aguero's latest injury struggles, leaving him doubtful for this weekend's match, sees 25-goal striker Romelu Lukaku selected through the middle. The former Everton and Chelsea ace is joined by Leroy Sane, who has developed into one of the finest young talents on the continent over the past 12 months, and Raheem Sterling in a season that has seen the Englishman notch 21 goals in all competitions. Jesse Lingard may argue otherwise, but he must maintain his recent good form, while Alexis Sanchez has yet to justify his wages since arriving from Arsenal in mid-season.

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