Manchester City`s main injury problems lie in defence, but Gael Clichy (ankle) is set to return for the Premier League champions, with fellow left-back Aleksandar Kolarov (groin) also close to full fitness.
|Last Updated: Dec 09, 2012, 08:52 AM IST|Source: Bureau
London: Manchester City`s main injury problems lie in defence, but Gael Clichy (ankle) is set to return for the Premier League champions, with fellow left-back Aleksandar Kolarov (groin) also close to full fitness.
James Milner (hamstring) and Micah Richards (knee) are likely to miss out for the home side, while Jack Rodwell (hamstring) should be available for selection for Roberto Mancini.
David Silva (hamstring) is a worry for the hosts, and could be replaced by Javi Garcia in the centre for a more defensive formation.
The visitors have injury problems in midfield, with Anderson (hamstring) likely to miss the festive period after picking up a knock against Reading, and Tom Cleverley (calf) also a doubt.
Antonio Valencia (thigh) and Nemanja Vidic (knee) could both be available for selection, although Sir Alex Ferguson has said he feels the game will come to soon for the Serbian captain after a second long spell out.
Nani (hamstring) is almost certainly out of the game, while Shinji Kagawa (knee) could take a place on the bench after time on the sidelines.
STATS
• The first meeting between Manchester City and Manchester United - or West Gordon and Newton Heath as they were formerly known - ended in a 3-0 victory for the latter in 1881.
• Manchester City have been awarded 21 penalties in the last three seasons - the joint-most in the Premier League alongside United.
• Wayne Rooney`s penalty against Reading in the 4-3 victory last weekend was United`s 1000th Premier League goal this century.
• United have recovered 21 points from losing positions this season in the Premier League - more than any other side in the division.
• Carlos Tevez has played for both Manchester clubs - he joined City in 2009 after spending two seasons on loan at United.
• Robin van Persie is joint-top scorer in the league, with 10 goals alongside Demba Ba, Michu and Luis Suarez - City`s top scorer is Carlos Tevez with seven.
• Sir Matt Busby and Steve Coppell both played for City before managing United, with the former leading the Reds to their first ever European Cup in 1968.
• United have won 1-0 against City three times in their last six Premier League games at the Etihad.
• 2006 was the last year there was more than one goal scored in a league fixture between the two with City as hosts, with the home side winning 3-1.
Goal.com
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.