Man Utd vs Man City LIVE: Hosts begin strongly in Premier Clash as Kevin De Bruyne begins in derby
Manchester United face rivals Manchester City in a derby that could be crucial for Pep Guardiola’s hopes of Champions League qualification next season.
Guardiola’s team will want to avenge December’s shock derby defeat at the Etihad, when United scored two late goals in two minutes to flip the contest on its head as the Red Devils came out 2-1 victors. The visitors are still reeling from the news of Erling Haaland’s injury, with the Norwegian striker set to miss seven weeks of action, while it has also been confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne will leave the club at the end of the season after a decade-long spell in Manchester.
City will nonetheless fancy their chances at Old Trafford as they look to strengthen their position, with United’s poor performances continuing with the midweek loss to Nottingham Forest. Harry Maguire’s late introduction up front again highlighted a problem area for Ruben Amorim, even if the makeshift striker almost nicked a point, but the Portuguese manager has tasted success against Manchester City twice this season and will hope for another win.
Follow all of the latest from Old Trafford in our live blog below:
Half-time! Man Utd 0-0 Man City
Not a great deal to write home about from those 45 minutes.
Goalless and not very thrilling. Hopefully we get a contrasting second half.
Man Utd 0-0 Man City
45 mins: Two minutes of added time to play at the end of the first half.
Man Utd 0-0 Man City
42 mins: Ruben Amorim will be the happier of the two managers.
Man City have offered very little, United have at least tried to get on the front foot and challenging the goal.
Man Utd 0-0 Man City
39 mins: Dorgu threads a pass across the box which finds Dalot.
He looks to cut it back to Fernandes who leaves it as Casemiro arrives.
Casemiro shoots and gets the ball through the defence but Ederson is on hand to scoop it up without too much trouble.
Man Utd 0-0 Man City
36 mins: The Old Trafford faithful are in full voice which is providing a nice backdrop to some less than thrilling football.
It’s all a bit tepid and slow as United look to remain solid against the better quality of City and try to hurt them on the break.
An injection of creativity or even a goal is needed to liven up proceedings.
Man Utd 0-0 Man City
33 mins: Andre Onana comes to meet Phil Foden’s delivery but gets nowhere near the ball.
Instead it is flicked on to the back post where Noussair Mazraoui clears the danger for Man Utd.
Man Utd 0-0 Man City
30 mins: Half an hour played at Old Trafford and no goals.
No proper chances to speak of either with Garnacho’s fumbled attempt probably the best of them.
City just haven’t been able to put it together in the final third but they win themselves a corner.
‘An open game’
“An open game, in part because neither side has the capacity to close it down.
“City have two midfielders at full-back. It feels a little odd that Nico Gonzalez was benched.
“United been fairly enterprising but lacking quality in the final third, particularly from Patrick Dorgu when Alejandro Garnacho set him up.”
