The Citizens go into the game sitting one place and one point behind their near-neighbours, but they have also kept five clean sheets in a row across all competitions.

Man United, meanwhile, have won their last four Premier League games but were dumped out of the Champions League in midweek with defeat to RB Leipzig.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Pep Guardiola could line his side up for the contest.

Out: None
Doubtful: Eric Garcia (knock), Ilkay Gundogan (ankle)

> Click here for Man City's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Guardiola has already confirmed that Sergio Aguero will not start in the derby, having only just returned from his latest injury during a goalscoring appearance off the bench in midweek.

Gabriel Jesus is set to lead the line instead, although Ferran Torres and Bernardo Silva provide different options through the middle should Guardiola look to spring something of a surprise.

Whereas Aguero returned on Wednesday, both Eric Garcia and Ilkay Gundogan picked up knocks which forced their withdrawals and they will be assessed ahead of kickoff this weekend.

Gundogan's withdrawal is understood to have only been precautionary and he could be fit to start this weekend, although Guardiola is unlikely to take any risks over his fitness with such a busy spell coming up.

Man City had the luxury of making a number of changes in midweek, meaning that Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Ederson and Benjamin Mendy could all return to the starting XI for this one.

Raheem Sterling will also be expecting a recall, although he has failed to score in any of his previous 16 Premier League appearances against Manchester United and has struggled to get the better of Man United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka in recent derbies.

> Click here to see how Manchester United could line up for this contest