Two Manchester United substitutes could change the game vs Man City in Manchester derby

Can United halt Haaland?

Raphael Varane was briefly fourth-choice centre-back at Manchester United yet since the start of the season three centre-backs on the planet have not been better than Varane.

He has developed such an impressive axis with Lisandro Martinez United have conceded two goals in their five starts together and won all of them. Today, Varane and Martinez have the onerous task of slaying the monster that is Erling Haaland.

Ten games, 14 goals and two hat-tricks. Only Liverpool and, quirkily, Bournemouth have prevented Haaland from scoring. Haaland looks as imposing as one of the henchmen in Die Hard and Varane and Martinez will have to get their hands as dirty as John McClane's vest if they are to stymie the game's most prolific goalscorer.

Also read: Ten Hag gives transfer update after United recruitment meetings

Haaland's goals have been impressively scrappy and City's penchant for utilising his aerial presence is ominous for United if Martinez, nine inches shorter, is tasked with marshalling Haaland at crosses. However, Martinez bossed Haaland in Ajax's 4-0 thrashing of Borussia Dortmund last season.

One change or unchanged?

Erik ten Hag confirmed first-team statuses with his starting line-up against Sheriff, a fixture he would have rotated in had United not been the victim of two dubious domestic postponements. Beyond the starting centre forward, everyone else is assured of starting at the Etihad.

Marcus Rashford's participation in training on Friday could ensure Ten Hag names the same starting XI that beat Arsenal four weeks ago, which would mean a demotion for Cristiano Ronaldo.

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