In the midst of a horror run, Manchester City will hope the rivalry and rancour of derby day can provide a lift as Manchester United visit the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side have won just once in their last 10 games with both their Premier League title challenge and hopes of qualification for the Champions League knockout rounds taking a significant blow. To make matters worse, Guardiola is facing a defensive crisis this afternoon with Rico Lewis suspended and several other regular starters out, leaving the Catalan coach to consider radical solutions to spark a turnaround in form.
For Ruben Amorim, this will be a first taste of a famous fixture as the Portuguese manager continues to search for his best system and side. Amorim was pleased with the fight his team showed in the Europa League win on Thursday night but a mixed record since his arrival reflects the teething problems evident throughout his tenure so far. Can he become only the sixth manager to win their first Manchester derby in the Premier League era?
Follow all of the latest from the Manchester derby in our live blog below:
Ruben Amorim makes frank admission over Dan Ashworth’s Manchester United exit
While events at Manchester City may be more accurately described as a crisis, it’s been another turbulent week at Manchester United. Sporting director Dan Ashworth left the club on Sunday just five months after taking up his role.
Rasmus Hojlund says Manchester United need more time to adapt: ‘We train during the matches’
These are still embryonic days for Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, with a new system taking some adjusting to. Rasmus Hojlund has issued a plea for patience as the club work through some teething problems.
Bruno Fernandes urges United to forget City’s problems and focus on own issues
Ruben Amorim says Man Utd ‘my only option’ as he dismisses Man City speculation
United quickly moved to appoint Amorim after sacking Erik ten Hag in late October, when he had been linked to City amid uncertainty over Guardiola’s future.
Man City set to spend big on transfers after revealing latest financial accounts
City made a profit of £139m on transfers in a year when they sold Cole Palmer, Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez which could help fund an overhaul of Pep Guardiola’s ageing squad.
Former England manager accuses Pep Guardiola of ‘losing trophies’ due to ‘arrogance’
Is Pep Guardiola “arrogant”? And is that quality costing his sides trophies? Fabio Capello certainly thinks so…
Why Ilkay Gundogan’s assessment of Man City is so alarming for Pep Guardiola
And Pep Guardiola wasn’t the only Manchester City employee questioning their direction after the Juventus defeat, as Richard Jolly explains:
Pep Guardiola ‘questioning himself’ as Man City suffer another defeat
Second-half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie at the Allianz Stadium left Guardiola’s side languishing in 22nd place in the standings.
Manchester derby LIVE
A very good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s LIVE coverage of the Manchester derby. These are rocky times for Manchester City as both domestic and continental campaigns threaten to come off the rails amid a wretched recent run, with Pep Guardiola admitting that nine defeats in ten games had taken a significant toll on him and his squad. Can their cross-town rivals pile on more pain as Ruben Amorim experiences derby day for the first time as Manchester United manager?
Kick off is at 4.30pm GMT.