The State of Play
Erling Haaland has returned to form with a bang since his injury and he put on a show in midweek as he scored five goals as Manchester City hammered Luton Town by six goals to two at Kenilworth Road in the fifth round of the FA Cup. City are now unbeaten in their last 18 matches across all competitions as they chase what would be a historic ‘double treble’ in the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.
Manchester United are not very good and even when they win they do so in baffling circumstances not befitting a club the size of the Red Devils. Yet another late goal was needed to edge past a struggling Nottingham Forest side at the City Ground in the FA Cup in midweek. Erik ten Hag’s men have won just five of 36 games across all competitions so far this season by more than a solitary goal.
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Team News
Manchester City and Jack Grealish will be becoming very frustrated with his fitness after he was forced off with an injury once again in midweek. Josko Gvardiol could return for City this weekend.
Erik ten Hag and Manchester United have major issues in two departments with no senior left-back as both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are out injured, whilst Rasmus Hojlund is still missing up-front, too.
Expected Line-ups
Man City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake; Rodri, Bernardo; Foden, De Bruyne, Doku; Haaland
Man Utd: Onana; Dalot, Varane, Evans, Lindelof; Casemiro, Mainoo; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford
What they Said
Pep Guardiola discussed the performances of both Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland in the aftermath of their victory over Luton. He praised the attackers and said that they ‘need each other’.
Erik ten Hag defended his captain, Bruno Fernandes, after he received criticism via social media with the Dutchman describing the criticism as ‘pathetic’.
When and How to Watch
This match will be played at the Etihad Stadium at 15:30 on Sunday March 3rd. It will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and can be streamed live via the Sky Go app, too, in the UK.
Prediction
This one is expected to be a fairly comfortable home win. The reverse fixture between these two sides saw Manchester City hammer Manchester United by three goals to nil at Old Trafford and another comfortable City win is to be expected. They haven’t necessarily been overwhelmingly convincing of late but they are beginning to win relentlessly and, as a result, they should come out on top at the Etihad with ease.
