Manchester City is heading into Old Trafford tomorrow with a squad that looks more like a hospital wing than a Premier League juggernaut. Honestly, if you’re looking for the man city lineup today, you’re going to find a list of names that feels a bit experimental. We aren’t just talking about a couple of rotations here; we’re talking about a defensive crisis that has Pep Guardiola visibly stressed.
The big news? No Ruben Dias. No John Stones. No Josko Gvardiol.
That is basically the entire spine of the defense gone. City fans are used to "Pep Roulette," but this isn't even tactical tinkering anymore. It’s survival. With a 12:30 GMT kickoff looming on Saturday, January 17, the blue half of Manchester is holding its breath.
The Defensive Mess No One Expected
Look, losing one world-class center-back is a headache. Losing three at the same time? That’s a nightmare. Abdukodir Khusanov has been a revelation since stepping in, but asking the young Uzbek international to lead the line in a Manchester Derby is a massive ask.
Pep confirmed in his Friday press conference that "Ruben will be back soon," but "soon" doesn't help for tomorrow. Max Alleyne, the 20-year-old who was recalled from loan, is actually in contention to start. Imagine that. A few weeks ago he was playing developmental football, and now he might be tasked with keeping a lid on a Michael Carrick-led United.
Nico O’Reilly is another one to watch. He’s been filling in at left-back, which is such a typical Pep move—taking a tall, technical midfielder and telling him he’s a defender now. It’s worked okay so far, but Old Trafford is a different beast entirely.
Midfield Toss-ups: Is Nico Gonzalez Ready?
The biggest question mark in the middle is Nico Gonzalez. He’s been out since New Year’s Day with a knock, and Pep was pretty cryptic about him today. He basically said they’ll need to see how he reacts to the Friday afternoon session.
If Nico can’t go, Rodri is obviously the man. He only played 30 minutes in the midweek Carabao Cup win against Newcastle, clearly being saved for this specific battle. You’ve also got Phil Foden and Tijjani Reijnders likely starting in those advanced "eight" roles.
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- Gianluigi Donnarumma (He's back in for James Trafford)
- Matheus Nunes (The first-choice RB right now)
- Abdukodir Khusanov (The emergency starter)
- Nathan Ake (Moving inside to cover the CB crisis)
- Nico O’Reilly (The makeshift LB)
That backline is... shaky. It's fast, sure, but it lacks the physical dominance Stones and Dias usually provide.
The Semenyo Factor
One bright spot is Antoine Semenyo. The £64m man from Bournemouth has been electric since joining this January. He’s already bagged two goals in his first couple of outings and looks like he’s been playing in a Guardiola system for years.
He offers something different. More direct. More chaos.
Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki are also fighting for that spot on the wing. Doku is the safer bet for the derby because of his ability to stretch the pitch, but Cherki’s cameo against Newcastle—where he scored late—has everyone talking.
Up top, Erling Haaland is, well, Haaland. Though he’s "only" scored once in his last six games. By his standards, that’s a catastrophic drought. You just know he’s due for a hat-trick, and what better place than the Stretford End?
Who is missing?
- Omar Marmoush: Still at AFCON with Egypt (third-place play-off duty).
- Savinho: Out with a long-term injury.
- Oscar Bobb: Still sidelined.
- Mateo Kovacic: Not fit yet.
Tactical Shift: Faster, Not Just Flatter
If you’ve watched City lately, they aren't playing that slow, suffocating "death by a thousand passes" style as much. It’s gotten more vertical. More verticality means more risk.
Against United, they’ll likely use Foden to drop deep and create a diamond in midfield. This helps protect the inexperienced center-backs. If United try to press high, City will look to bypass the midfield entirely and find Semenyo or Doku on the break. It’s weird seeing City as a "transitional" team, but that’s 2026 for you.
Predicted Starting XI (4-1-4-1)
- GK: Donnarumma
- RB: Nunes
- CB: Khusanov
- CB: Ake
- LB: O'Reilly
- DM: Rodri
- RW: Semenyo
- CM: Foden
- CM: Reijnders
- LW: Doku
- ST: Haaland
This lineup assumes Nico Gonzalez doesn't pass his late fitness test. If he does, expect Reijnders or Bernardo Silva to potentially drop to the bench, though Bernardo’s experience in derbies usually makes him un-droppable.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the Warm-ups: Keep a close eye on Nico Gonzalez during the pre-match drills. If he’s moving freely, City’s control of the game increases by about 20%.
- Targeting the Left: United will likely target the space behind Nico O'Reilly. If Ake has to keep drifting wide to cover him, Khusanov will be left 1-on-1 with Haaland's markers.
- Set Pieces: Without Dias and Stones, City are significantly shorter. Expect United to try and exploit every corner and free kick they get.
Manchester City is currently 16 points clear of United, but form goes out the window when half your starting defense is in the treatment room. It's going to be a tense one at Old Trafford.
Next Steps for the Matchday
Check the official team sheets exactly one hour before kickoff (11:30 AM GMT). If Max Alleyne starts over Ake at center-back, expect a very high defensive line meant to catch United offside rather than a physical battle. Ensure you have your Sky Sports or USA Network stream ready, as the rain in Manchester is expected to make the pitch incredibly slick, favoring Haaland's direct runs.