Man City vs Manchester United LIVE: Premier League latest score and goal updates as Amorim makes huge call

In the midst of a horror run, Manchester City will hope the rivalry and rancour of derby day can provide a lift as Manchester United visit the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s side have won just once in their last 10 games with both their Premier League title challenge and hopes of qualification for the Champions League knockout rounds taking a significant blow. To make matters worse, Guardiola is facing a defensive crisis this afternoon with Rico Lewis suspended and several other regular starters out, leaving the Catalan coach to consider radical solutions to spark a turnaround in form.

For Ruben Amorim, this will be a first taste of a famous fixture as the Portuguese manager continues to search for his best system and side. Amorim was pleased with the fight his team showed in the Europa League win on Thursday night but a mixed record since his arrival reflects the teething problems evident throughout his tenure so far. Can he become only the sixth manager to win their first Manchester derby in the Premier League era?

Follow all of the latest from the Manchester derby in our live blog below:

Manchester derby LIVE

• Man City host Man Utd, live on Sky Sports

• Pep Guardiola’s side are in the midst of a horror run

• Utd are hoping to bounce back from a loss to Forest last time out

• Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Nunes, Foden, Doku, Haaland

• Man Utd XI: Onana, Mazraoui, Maguire, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Amad, Mount, Hojlund

• No Marcus Rashford or Alejandro Garnacho in Man Utd squad

Manchester City FC 0 – 0 Manchester United FC

Manchester City 0-0 Manchester United

16:34 , Chris Wilson

1 min

It is Nunes starting at left-back for City, with Silva on the right wing.

For United, Mazraoui is right wing-back, with Diallo starting in the advanced midfield position alongside Mount.

Plenty of high pressing early on for the home side.

KICK-OFF! Manchester City 0-0 Manchester United

16:32 , Chris Wilson

The home side get us underway at the Etihad. There’s already been plenty of news to note so far today, and we’re sure to have some more soon.

Manchester derby LIVE

16:25 , Chris Wilson

Both sides are in the tunnel at the Etihad and we’re around five minutes from kick-off.

Match facts

16:20 , Chris Wilson

Manchester United have lost both of their last two Premier League games, last losing three in a row within a single season in December 2015 under Louis van Gaal. New manager Ruben Amorim is yet to lose three on the bounce in his top-flight managerial career, with this his 172nd such match across Portugal’s Primeira Liga and England’s Premier League.

39% of Man Utd’s goals conceded in the Premier League this season have come from corner situations (7/18), the highest share in the division. So far in 2024, they’ve conceded 15 goals from corners, just three fewer than they did in 2021 (8), 2022 (4) and 2023 (6) combined.

Ruben Amorim has already beaten Manchester City this season, with his Sporting CP side winning 4-1. Only one manager has beaten the reigning Premier League champions with two different sides in a single campaign, with Alan Pardew beating Man City with both Newcastle United and Crystal Palace in 2014-15.

‘A derby that both teams look capable of losing’

16:20 , Richard Jolly, at the Etihad

Both are at a historic low – City over the last 10 games, United after 15 of a league campaign. Pep Guardiola looks to have gone with wing-backs – potentially Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes – because of a lack of defenders. United lack two of their usual forwards with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho omitted from the squad.

Amorim: “This was my only option”

16:16 , Chris Wilson

In his own press conference, Ruben Amorim insisted that the United job “was my only option”, adding that “when Manchester United talked to me, I had no doubts because I had already something in my mind that it could be a possibility”.

“We will face a great opponent and I’m more focused on our problems. So we have a lot of issues here, so I’m more focused on what we should do on Sunday to win the game.

“I’m really focused on the details. I just want to improve the team so I cannot live it like a normal derby, like it should be – two great teams fighting for the title. And it’s not that in this moment. So it’s just one more game with a very good opponent.

“The great teams can respond at any moment – and I think they are in a better place than us in the type of understanding the game, the way they play and the confidence they have. We will have a strategy: try to win the game with the strategy like it should be.”

Match facts

16:12 , Chris Wilson

City have conceded at least twice in seven of their last 11 Premier League games (W4 D3 L4), as many times as they had in their previous 62 in the competition.

Erling Haaland has nine goal involvements in just four Premier League appearances against Manchester United (6 goals, 3 assists). It’s already the most goal involvements any Manchester City player has against the Red Devils in the competition.

Phil Foden has scored six goals in his last four Premier League appearances against Manchester United. Only Sergio Agüero (8) has scored more Manchester derby goals for the Citizens in the competition than Foden (6, level with Erling Haaland).

Guardiola: “The less emotional you are the better”

16:10 , Chris Wilson

In his pre-match press conference, Pep Guardiola said that for his players, “the less emotional you are the better”.

“In our jobs we always want to do our best and when that doesn’t happen you are more uncomfortable. That is not just the managers but there is bigger scrutiny for the team. I’m fine. When I have more thoughts, it is about what we can do and what I feel right now is how I felt in he last month. Nothing has changed.”

He added that City need “to shoot more and cut out the mistakes”, saying: “What I want is my players back.

“I would desperately love to compete with the squad we had at the beginning of the season. My regret is that we don’t we have these, not needing new ones.”

He added that despite the club’s positive financial results, it “doesn’t mean we have big, big resources to buy whatever we want, especially with how expensive the transfer market is”.

More from Amorim

16:07 , Chris Wilson

Explaining his decision to leave out Rashford and Garnacho, Amorim said: “Selection. We try to evaluate everything: training, performance, game performance, engagement with the team-mates, pushing the team-mates up. Everything is on the line when we analyse and try to choose the players, so that is my selection.

“I don’t want to send a message. It’s simply an evaluation, and they know it. The players are really, really smart. Everybody understands my decision. I have to choose.

“The context is difficult. We have to win games and we have a difficult situation. I pay attention to everything, the way you eat, the way you put on your clothes to go the game. Everything. I make my evaluation and then I have to decide. I have a lot of players to choose.”

Match facts

16:05 , Chris Wilson

Manchester City have won five of their last six Premier League games against Manchester United (L1), more than they had in their previous 13 (W4 D3 L6).

United have lost each of their last three Premier League away games against Man City, conceding 13 goals in the process. They last lost four consecutive league visits to the Citizens between 1952 and 1955.

The Red Devils have lost 20 Premier League games against Man City – only against Arsenal (21) have they lost more in the competition.

Ruben Amorim explains shock decision to drop Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho for Manchester derby

16:00 , Jamie Braidwood

Ruben Amorim has explained why Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were dropped from his Manchester United squad to face Manchester City in the derby, with the Portuguese manager revealing it was not purely a footballing decision.

Rashford and Garnacho were surprise omissions from Amorim’s team to take on Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad, with both players having featured in the win at Viktoria Plzen on Thursday.

Amorim confirmed that neither player is injured, adding that both Rashford and Garnacho trained at Carrington on Sunday morning while the first-team prepared for the trip to the Etihad.

Amorim explains shock decision to drop Rashford and Garnacho from Man Utd squad

Man City considering move for Paul Pogba but face key stumbling block

15:51 , Chris Wilson

Manchester City have sounded out Paul Pogba about a potential move on his return to football in March. The player himself is understood to be reluctant to move back to Manchester, however, due to his experience there with local rivals United.

Pogba recently had a four-year ban for increased levels of testosteronereduced to 18 months, meaning he is eligible to play again in March. The situation saw the 31-year-old leave Juventus in November, meaning he is a free agent.

City have been assessing options in the midst of the most difficult season of Pep Guardiola‘s time so far, where injury and recruitment issues have left a thin squad exposed.

Man City considering move for Paul Pogba but face key stumbling block

Head-to-head

15:45 , Chris Wilson

These two sides have met a total of 172 times, with the first meeting dating as far back as the 1890s. Overall, United have won 67 City have won 56, and 49 have ended as draws.

Last season, City won both meetings in the league (3-0 at Old Trafford and 3-1 at the Etihad), though they lost the FA Cup final to their rivals in the final match of the season.

In August, City won the Community Shield on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Pep Guardiola has new appreciation for Man City feats after recent poor form

15:40 , Chris Wilson

Pep Guardiola has a new appreciation for Manchester City’s dominance amid their current struggles and claimed he would walk away if he felt he had lost the team.

City host Manchester United in the derby at the Etihad on Sunday in the unfamiliar position of having lost seven of their last 10 games in all competitions.

Guardiola ended speculation about his future by signing a new two-year contract three weeks ago but that certainty has so far not helped City arrest their slide.

Pep Guardiola has new appreciation for Man City feats after recent poor form

Team news

15:31 , Chris Wilson

Perhaps the biggest news from the United camp is that neither Marcus Rashford or Alejandro Garnacho are in the matchday squad.

Ruben Amorim has made four changes to the side that beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in midweek, with Rasmus Hojlund starting up top ahead of Joshua Zirkzee.

In midfield, Casemiro has dropped out in favour of summer signing Manuel Ugarte, while at wing-back Tyrell Malacia is benched in favour of Harry Maguire, with Diogo Dalot presumably moving to left wing-back and Amad Diallo on the right.

In addition, Mason Mount has replaced Rashford, who is dropped.

Team news

15:23 , Chris Wilson

Pep Guardiola has made two changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Juventus last time out.

Rico Lewis and Jack Grealish drop out, with Matheus Nunes and Phil Foden replacing them.

On paper, it seems that maybe Nunes will fill in at left-back if they are in a back four, with Doku and Bernardo on the wings and one of Foden and De Bruyne holding alongside Gundogan, perhaps.

Line-ups

15:18 , Chris Wilson

City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Nunes, Foden, Doku, Haaland.

Subs: Ortega Moreno, Stones, Kovacic, Grealish, Savinho, Simpson-Pusey, Mubama, O’Reilly, McAtee

Utd XI: Onana, Mazraoui, de Ligt, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot, Mount, Fernandes, Ugarte, Amad, Hojlund.

Subs: Bayindir, Malacia, Yoro, Lindelof, Casemiro, Eriksen, Mainoo, Antony, Zirkzee.

Team news on the way…

15:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Here we go then. Will it be youngster Jahmai Simpson-Pusey to fill the defensive void? Or will Matheus Nunes be moved into the back four? The team news is imminent…

Pep Guardiola considers radical option to solve Manchester City’s defensive crisis

15:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Team news at the Etihad Stadium is about 15 minutes away, with Manchester City facing real selection issues at the back. With just three senior defenders available, Pep Guardiola has been forced to consider some radical options:

Pep Guardiola considers radical option to solve Manchester City’s defensive crisis

Pep Guardiola and the two meetings with Ruben Amorim that shape Manchester derby

14:40 , Richard Jolly

Pep Guardiola is on to the fifth Manchester United manager of his reign at Manchester City. Under normal circumstances, that would illustrate the difficulty of coaching in the same city and competing with him. After all City had 14 managers and four caretakers during Sir Alex Ferguson’s epic reign at Old Trafford. Now Ruben Amorim makes it five United managers, plus two caretakers, Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy, since Guardiola arrived in 2016. As his new contract lasts until 2027, there is time for another.

And yet Amorim’s Manchester derby debut offers him the chance to complete a rare feat. On the worst run of his managerial career, Guardiola has already lost twice within a few weeks to Ange Postecoglou. Amorim has the opportunity to emulate him, but to do a double with different clubs. His penultimate game with Sporting CP was a 4-1 triumph that took the Portuguese club second in the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola and the two meetings with Ruben Amorim that shape Manchester derby

Man City and Man Utd are in crisis – but only one club has an obvious solution to escape nightmare start

14:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It all leaves things a little gloomy ahead of today’s derby. Which camp would you rather be in? Pete Hall examines.

Man City and Man Utd are in crisis – but only one club has an obvious solution

Inside Dan Ashworth’s farcical Man Utd exit and the power struggle in the Old Trafford soap opera

14:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

And there is plenty at play behind the scenes at a club not necessarily settling in under their new ownership structure. Miguel Delaney explores the backstage politics that forced Jim Ratcliffe to make a ruthless call.

Inside Dan Ashworth’s farcical Man Utd exit and the power struggle at Old Trafford

Dan Ashworth’s departure puts an end to Manchester United’s latest farce

14:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Having pursued Ashworth so relentlessly, and having forked out a significant sum to recruit him from Newcastle, the sporting director’s departure was more than a little peculiar. Richard Jolly looks at a strange situation:

Dan Ashworth’s departure puts an end to Manchester United’s latest farce

Ruben Amorim makes frank admission over Dan Ashworth’s Manchester United exit

13:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

While events at Manchester City may be more accurately described as a crisis, it’s been another turbulent week at Manchester United. Sporting director Dan Ashworth left the club on Sunday just five months after taking up his role.

Ruben Amorim makes frank admission over Dan Ashworth’s Manchester United exit

Rasmus Hojlund says Manchester United need more time to adapt: ‘We train during the matches’

13:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

These are still embryonic days for Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, with a new system taking some adjusting to. Rasmus Hojlund has issued a plea for patience as the club work through some teething problems.

Rasmus Hojlund says Man Utd need more time to adapt: ‘We train during the matches’

Bruno Fernandes urges United to forget City’s problems and focus on own issues

13:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Bruno Fernandes says Manchester United must focus on fixing their own problems ahead of the derby rather than thinking about Manchester City’s miserable recent form.

Bruno Fernandes urges United to forget City’s problems and focus on own issues

Ruben Amorim says Man Utd ‘my only option’ as he dismisses Man City speculation

13:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Ruben Amorim says he never spoke to Manchester City about becoming Pep Guardiola’s replacement as the Manchester United head coach prepares for his first derby in charge.

The 39-year-old established himself as one of Europe’s finest up-and-coming coaches with his transformational work at Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon.

United quickly moved to appoint Amorim after sacking Erik ten Hag in late October, when he had been linked to City amid uncertainty over Guardiola’s future.

Ruben Amorim dismisses Man City links and declares Man Utd his ‘only option’

Man City set to spend big on transfers after revealing latest financial accounts

12:45 , Richard Jolly

Manchester City are in a position to go on a vast spending spree next summer after posting a profit of £73m in the 2023-24 financial year and with player sales giving them huge leeway to buy within the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) .

City made a profit of £139m on transfers in a year when they sold Cole Palmer, Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez which could help fund an overhaul of Pep Guardiola’s ageing squad.

Man City set to spend big on transfers after revealing latest financial accounts

Former England manager accuses Pep Guardiola of ‘losing trophies’ due to ‘arrogance’

12:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Is Pep Guardiola “arrogant”? And is that quality costing his sides trophies? Fabio Capello certainly thinks so…

Former England manager accuses Pep Guardiola of ‘losing trophies’ due to ‘arrogance’

Why Ilkay Gundogan’s assessment of Man City is so alarming for Pep Guardiola

12:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

And Pep Guardiola wasn’t the only Manchester City employee questioning their direction after the Juventus defeat, as Richard Jolly explains:

Why Ilkay Gundogan’s assessment of Man City is so alarming for Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola ‘questioning himself’ as Man City suffer another defeat

12:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Pep Guardiola admitted he is questioning himself after Manchester City’s latest defeat left them in danger of missing out on the Champions League knockout stages.

City slumped to their seventh defeat in 10 games in all competitions as they were beaten 2-0 at Juventus in their latest European outing on Wednesday.

Second-half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie at the Allianz Stadium left Guardiola’s side languishing in 22nd place in the standings.

Pep Guardiola ‘questioning himself’ as Man City suffer another defeat

Manchester derby LIVE

Friday 13 December 2024 13:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A very good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s LIVE coverage of the Manchester derby. These are rocky times for Manchester City as both domestic and continental campaigns threaten to come off the rails amid a wretched recent run, with Pep Guardiola admitting that nine defeats in ten games had taken a significant toll on him and his squad. Can their cross-town rivals pile on more pain as Ruben Amorim experiences derby day for the first time as Manchester United manager?

Kick off is at 4.30pm GMT.