da brdice： The biggest game of the Premier League season so far is upon us this weekend as Manchester United welcome neighbours Manchester City to Old Trafford in a highly anticipated clash.
da esport bet： As soon as Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola were announced as managers of their respective clubs, attention switched to when their first competitive game on these shores would be, making for the latest edition in a rivalry that has had it’s fair share of controversy over the years.
Both bosses will be looking for the an advantage in the title race as they head into the game locked together on nine points atop the Premier League table and the plot, as if it needed extra, has undergone an early twist.
Sergio Aguero, who has started this season in formidable form, is banned for this game. An elbow to Winston Reid in the match against West Ham has been punished retrospectively and City now find themselves without their best player going into the Derby.
Guardiola doesn’t have his reputation because he can’t think of a back-up plan though, and will have surely got something lined up ready for the Red Devils on Saturday lunch-time.
What that’ll be remains to be seen up until the teams are announced on Saturday morning, but we think one of these thee options could make up for the missing Argentine…
Kelechi Iheanacho
The Nigerian turns 20 next month and would likely be Guardiola’s most orthodox option.
Iheanacho has shown in his smattering of appearances for City he can score goals so his talent can’t be doubted.
He has pace to challenge Daley Blind if he starts ahead of Chris Smalling but he’ll also be going into arguably the biggest game of his career as the man City need to lead the line.
That factor is something Guardiola will have to consider ahead of the game.
Raheem Sterling
When Guardiola was announced as City’s new boss, many felt Sterling might be heading for the exit d0or but on the contrary, he has been one of the club’s brightest players so far this season.
Two goals and two assists in three Premier League games have highlighted the turn-around he has had under Pep and as a player who has played through the middle before for Liverpool, he could be an option.
At times for the Reds he admittedly went quiet as the main striker but with his evident new found confidence at City, he could find himself deputising here on Saturday.
Return of the false nine?
Pep Guardiola has often been seen as someone who comes up with novel tactics to deal with situations and the false 9 option might just be the avenue he goes down.
He played this system at Barcelona with Cesc Fabregas as the ‘9’ and he certainly has the players capable of doing so with City.
David Silva could be the one that gets the nod through the middle with his ability to ghost past defenders and it’ll be interesting to see, if this is the system City go for, how United’s physical centre-halves and holding players deal with it.
Naturally these players want someone to be ‘their man’ as someone to keep hold of so Silva in that gap could cause problems with United designating markers.