How Man City should line up in the derby vs Manchester United

Manchester City return to Premier League action on Sunday following the international break, and their assignment couldn't be much more important.

Manchester United will visit the Etihad Stadium for the 188th Manchester derby, and it promises to be an enthralling contest. City completely dominated their cross-town rivals in both meetings last season, winning 2-0 at Old Trafford in November before seeing them off 4-1 at the Etihad four months later.

With Erling Haaland now in the side and scoring goals at a ridiculous rate, City have even more firepower than last season. That will worry United, although it has to be said Erik ten Hag's side are enjoying a decent run of form themselves. United have won their last four consecutive league outings, and are certainly better than the side that was dominated by City last season.

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Given United's good record at the Etihad - they've won on three of their last four visits - Pep Guardiola will need to get his team selection spot on. Here's who our team of City writers think he should select in his starting XI.

John Stones being injured is not ideal for Guardiola but Manuel Akanji has had a terrific start to his City career and has the experience to be unfazed about being chucked into the derby. The rest of the defence is obvious.

The big call further forward is whether Bernardo Silva or Ilkay Gundogan - or both - get in. I'd be tempted to stick with the front three that worked so well at Wolves but Bernardo has an excellent record in derby matches and is impossible to leave out.

So too does Gundogan though, so I would use the German through the middle and have Bernardo