Manchester United risk having two January transfer decisions exposed by Man City

The last time Manchester United marched into Manchester City territory, it wasn't long before they were desperate to march back out again.

Before referee Michael Oliver had even blown his whistle for the half-time interval, United were 4-0 down and patches of blue were appearing in the away end. Two goals apiece from Phil Foden and Erling Haaland, who each completed hat-tricks after half-time, had blown United away.

Much of City's craftsmanship that afternoon extended from from their right-hand side, where Foden gave Tyrell Malacia the runaround on the latter's derby debut. The Dutchman, who has missed all of this season through injury, did not reappear after the interval, replaced by Luke Shaw.

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Though Foden is likely to occupy the left flank in City's front-three when the two sides contest the latest instalment of this historic rivalry on Sunday afternoon, Pep Guardiola will no doubt be targeting United's left side as an area of weakness which his side can exploit. The Reds, after all, are experiencing something of a crisis at left-back.

With Shaw and Malacia unavailable due to injury, Erik ten Hag does not have a natural senior option available to him. Victor Lindelof started against Fulham last weekend before Sofyan Amrabat, as a result of Lindelof sliding across to centre-back to cover Harry Maguire's absence, had a go against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup in midweek.

Though he did not do an awful lot wrong, the Moroccan is likely to be tested far more by City than he was at Forest. In an ideal world, Ten Hag would probably like to move Diogo Dalot to the left