Good afternoon, one and all. Welcome to our live coverage of the Manchester derby from Old Trafford where a lot more than bragging rights is on the line. Both United and City could end the day top of the table depending on the outcome here.
It all kicks-off at the very exact time of 2.05pm. We’ll have all the team news and build-up over the next hour.
Right, without further ado let’s take a look at the teams for this afternoon’s clash.
Louis van Gaal has made one change to his side from Wednesday’s draw in Moscow with Juan Mata replacing Jesse Lingard.
Man United XI: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Rojo; Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin, Herrera; Mata, Rooney, Martial.
Without Aguero and Silva, Man City’s attack will be spearheaded by Kevin De Bruyne and Wilfried Bony.
Man City XI: Hart, Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Kolarov, Fernando, Fernandinho, Toure, Sterling, De Bruyne, Bony.
The atmosphere is building on Sir Matt Busby Way.
In the day’s early, early kick-off, Sunderland are leading Newcastle in the Tyne-Wear derby. There has been no shortage of controversy with the game’s talking point coming in first-half injury time.
After being on the back foot for much of the half, the hosts were awarded a penalty when Fabricio Coloccini was adjudged to have shoved Steven Fletcher in the box.
The referee then sent the Newcastle captain off before Adam Johnson converted the spot-kick. Still half an hour remaining in that.
And in the day’s other big news, Aston Villa have sacked manager Tim Sherwood following yesterday’s defeat to Swansea.
Despite bringing in 12 new players in the summer, reportedly spending over £50 million in the process, Sherwood’s side have managed to pick up just four points from a possible 30 this season, their last league win coming against Bournemouth on the opening day.
Let’s take a closer look at the starting XIs for today.
Louis van Gaal unsurprisingly brings Juan Mata back into the fold after the Spaniard was rested in Moscow midweek. It’s the same United side which defeated Everton last day out with Memphis Depay, Daley Blind, Matteo Darmian and Michael Carrick all forced to settle for a place on the bench.
Vincent Kompany starts for City while Aleksandar Kolarov and Fernando are also drafted back in with Pablo Zabaleta, Eli Mangala and Jesus Navas making way.
The visitors’ bench, however, doesn’t look particularly strong given the millions they’ve spent over the last few seasons.
Full-time at the Stadium of Light where Sunderland have claimed the bragging rights in the North East with a 3-0 win. Report to follow on The42 shortly.
But all the focus is now on Old Trafford where it’s United v City and red v blue.
Here come the teams. We’re just moments away from kick-off.
Cracking atmosphere, as you can imagine, at Old Trafford. So much riding on this game for both sides so let’s hope they don’t cancel each other out and we get a cagey affair.
Right, here we go. United to kick-off.
Interesting decision from van Gaal to leave Darmian on the bench again this afternoon in favour of Antonio Valencia. Perhaps it’s the Ecuadorian’s extra pace to deal with the threat of Raheem Sterling which game him the nod. One of several fascinating and crucial battles all over the pitch this afternoon.
United enjoying much of the early possession as both sides look to settle into the contest. Valencia goes marauding down the right but his tracked all the way by Kolarov and the cross goes behind.
Frantic start and Yaya Toure is fortunate to escape an early booking for tripping Wayne Rooney in midfield. Referee Mark Clattenburg lets him away with it on that occasion.
United appeal for a penalty as Mata’s chip inside strikes Fernandinho but Clattenburg isn’t interested. Replays show it was outside the box and the ball barely brushed the Brazilian’s arm. Correct decision.
First purposeful attack from City as Sterling finds a pocket of space and sets his sight on goal but his effort is blocked behind. De Bruyne’s corner is headed clear and United push out.
Jones did well to close Sterling down there but encouraging signs for the visitors as they drew United’s players out and caught them in behind.
First booking of the day and it goes to Fernandinho for bringing Martial to ground. No worse than Yaya Toure’s but Clattenburg brandishes the card. He’ll miss the next game against Crystal Palace, too.
Valencia is bombing forward at every opportunity down the right and he draws the foul from Kolarov. Good position for United but Mata’s delivery is poor and doesn’t clear the first man.
Not much action at either end to speak of but the midfield battle has been fascinating so far with United just about edging it. City, however, are looking increasingly dangerous on the counter-attack with Yaya Toure being given the freedom to advance forward.
Accidental clash of heads between Wayne Rooney and Vincent Kompany forces the United captain to the sideline for some running repairs.
Period of pressure for United as they look to force the tempo. With no space in the central areas, the hosts have looked to utilise the flanks with Valencia and Rojo both pushing forward.
Pulsating opening half an hour to the Manchester derby. Chances have been at a premium but that’s the way it should be in these big games. As Gary Neville says on Sky Sports, it should be difficult to get ahead in a game of this magnitude and you’ve to work for every yard of space.
Rooney does well to get away from Sagna and has space to run into but as he has the City defence back-pedalling, he opts to slip in Martial who had stopped his run.
Mata loses possession in a dangerous position and as Fernandinho looks to set Bony free, the Spaniard slides in late and is booked by the referee. City eventually win a corner as Yaya Toure’s looping header sails narrowly wide.
Just a couple of minutes remaining in the first-half and there’s still nothing to separate the sides.
Chance! Yaya Toure starts the move by sweeping it out to De Bruyne on the right. The Belgian runs at his man before picking out Toure with a beautifully weighted pass but the midfielder snatches at it and sends it high and wide.
And that’s half-time! Goalless at the break.
The sides are re-emerging from the dressing rooms for the second-half.
Back underway at Old Trafford and it’s United on the front foot straight away as they win a corner. Herrera goes over to take but it comes to nothing.
Elsewhere, Tottenham are now leading Bournemouth 3-1 despite falling behind to a Matt Richie goal after 47 seconds.
Really bright start from United as Martial demonstrates his close control to work the opening for Herrera. The Spaniard switches it onto his left foot and that allows the blue shirts to close him down and it’s blocked behind.
Close! From the resulting Smalling wins the header at the back post and it trickles just wide with Morgan Schneiderlin unable to stretch to deflect it home.
Man City made their first change with Raheem Sterling brought off for Jesus Navas. It looks like De Bruyne is switching to the left flank with Navas occupying the right.
United continue to dominate possession but have yet to find the breakthrough. City, as they have done all afternoon, look dangerous on the break. A little over half an hour remaining.
Bastian Schweinsteiger finds himself unmarked at the edge of the box and gets to the byline. The German’s cross is intended for Rooney but it’s put behind Otamendi.
Decent phase of play for United there with Schweinsteiger first raiding slowly through the middle
They then fashion a half chance for Rojo in space 30 yards out, but his shot is blocked and the brief bright opening comes to nought.
A lull in play now as City pin United into their third, but the Reds do well to play their way out around the corner, and Lingard slides a pass down the channel for Rooney to hit.
The striker declines the strike though, and instead tries to cut the ball back. To Lingaard? To Martial in the middle? We’re not sure. It was blocked and the deadlock continues.
Sound the warhorn. Big Marouane is stripped off and ready to roll.
Lingard has been pretty sharp since coming on, there he played a neat flowing one-two with Herrera to attack up the right, but he was well stood up and couldn’t get by the defender without the ball getting away from him.
Schweinsteiger is the man to make way for Fellaini as we enter the final quarter.
Pellegrini responds by withdrawing Yaya Toure and on in his place is Martin Demichelis. Chance here for City as they win the free-kick and Kolorav has placed the ball down. 30 yards out but he fancies it.
But it’s De Bruyne who hits it and he strikes the wall. Pretty much sums up the afternoon.
Valencia is struggling and he goes down clutching his thigh. Darmian is on in his place and that’s all three subs used by van Gaal.
Frustration for Rooney once again as he gives away another free-kick. It’s been another one of those days for the United skipper.
Time for a hero? Teenager Kelechi Iheanacho comes on for Bony with seven minutes of the Manchester derby remaining.
Off the bar! Nearly brilliant from United. Martial drives at the City defence with pace and plays a delightful ball over the top for Lingaard. Kolarav steps up to play offside but gets it all wrong and the United youngster attempts an audacious flick.
He strikes it sweetly and beats Joe Hart but it comes back off the bar.
At the other end, Kolarov whips in a dangerous free kick and Otamendi is close to getting on the end of it but Rooney does enough to put him off.
This game has come alive! Hart is forced into a smart save to deny Smalling after Fellaini won the header. Old Trafford comes alive for the final few minutes.
Three minutes of added time as United are forced to defend a late corner. Rooney again gets his head to it.
And that’s full-time!
That failed to ignite and ultimately fell flat in the second-half. Not one for the DVD collection but both managers will no doubt be content with the result. City return to the summit of the Premier League while Man United stay in fourth.
That’s all from Old Trafford but remember there’s still Liverpool against Southampton to come. Follow all the action from Anfield with Steve O’Rourke here.
