Misfiring United seek revival and rare double in Manchester derby

Manchester United can claim a league double over Manchester City for the first time in five years and Ruben Amorim needs that victory more than ever in a season where the club are headed for their worst finish in Premier League history.

United have only two wins from their last seven games but form is rarely a factor in the Manchester derby and Amorim can take heart from the fact that his side snatched an unlikely victory the last time the two sides met.

But while City, who corrected their course after plummeting down the table, look primed to qualify for the Champions League and potentially win the FA Cup, United have lost their way to cast a pall of gloom over the home of the 20-times champions.

A 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday left United 13th in the table after 13 defeats. A loss to Pep Guardiola's City side would see the Old Trafford club equal their forgettable 2023-24 record of 14 defeats in a Premier League season.

With forwards Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund misfiring, a desperate Amorim threw defender Harry Maguire into the attack in the forlorn hope that a big man could strike against Forest.

The pressure has been mounting on the Portuguese manager who has admitted he does not have time to turn things around.

"We know that this season is going to be like that - win momentum, lose momentum. We continue going into the next match," Amorim said.

But one big man he will not have to worry about is City striker Erling Haaland. The Norwegian netted twice on his last visit to Old Trafford but an ankle injury will keep him out until the end of the season.

That would come as a huge relief to any defender but United will still be on high alert with City's January recruit Omar Marmoush on a hot streak having netted in