Manchester City vs Manchester United - Combined XI

The Manchester derby is back, and this time, we find both the red and blue sides of Manchester tottering at a very curious set of circumstances that few would have predicted when the season took off.Manchester City on one side, has finally made it to the champions league quarter finals. 8 years and a little more than a billion dollars of spending after Sheik Mansour decided to set up his base on the blue side of Manchester, City fans will finally get to see their team in the knockout stages of the competition.The Red Devils on the other hand, have fallen far since the days of Sir Alex.Back in 2008, they were busy with a Champions League campaign (one which they eventually conquered), while 2016 finds them knocked out in the group stages from Europe’s elite competition, then knocked out by their bitterest rivals from Europe’s ‘wannabe-elite’ competition, and finally clinging on for an outside chance at a 4th place finish in the premier league.The next season promises much for both sides with Pep Guardiola already confirmed to take over at the Etihad, and his arch-rival increasingly being touted to take over the reins at Old Trafford.The teams that line up under next year could be far different from those that line up today. The fixture, as always will be fiercely contested, with much to lose for both sides. Yet, at the fag end of a campaign that has been disappointing for both sides of Manchester, the fans will surely be looking to how the teams rebuild over the coming year.

#1 Goalkeeper

David De Gea has been brilliant for united at the back of an ever-changing and shaky defence

While Joe Hart is a top-class keeper in his own right, picking David De Gea for the goalkeeper slot is probably one of the easier decisions to make on this list.

De Gea has once again played a huge part in United’s campaign and without the Spaniard, United would be nowhere near the top four.

Neither player is at the top of their game at the moment, and both have been guarding the net at the back of a shambolic defence, but De Gea gets the pick by virtue of his commanding presence at the back, and his ability to pull off astounding saves when a goal seems certain.

De Gea’s Premier League average is 2.44 saves per game compared to Hart’s 2.04. Hart leads the league with 13 clean sheets to De Gea’s 10, but De Gea had missed the first four games of the campaign during which Romero had racked up three clean sheets in his absence.

Hart arrives at this game riding on a clean sheet in his last game against Aston Villa, while De Gea will be looking to prove a point after conceding against lowly West Brom.

Both keepers will have a vital role to play in what will surely be a closely fought contest.

By virtue of his leadership at the back of a shaky defence, and his consistently brilliant performances over the last two years that has earned him a deserved reputation as one of the best in the world, De Gea gets the nod this time.

#2 Defence

Smalling’s return from injury will be a huge boost to the Red Devils

One just has to take a look at the performances of the defensive units of both sides this season to realise that this is a task, not of picking the best, but of picking the best among players who seem just a shadow of what they’re capable of.

Amongst the full-backs, who’ve all disappointed this season. Matteo Darmian gets the nod at right-back due to his solid contribution defensively, which has seen United concede the fewest goals after Spurs so far this season. The youngster has missed a lot of games this season due to injury and yet his 58 successful tackles finds himself fourth best in the league.

Aleksandr Kolarov slots in at left back, in the absence of Luke Shaw who had begun the season brilliantly for United before being forced off through a terrible injury for the rest of the season. Kolarov has been highly suspect defensively, sometimes seeming like an extra winger, but he somehow finds time to show up at the right moment to slot in a goal, and is a major threat from set-pieces.

The Centre back department is one where both teams have been seriously lacking. Chris Smalling has recovered from injury and that should be a huge relief to Van Gaal as the England international has been a rock at the heart of the united defence. In his absence, United has almost always conceded. Smalling has a point to prove against city in particular, and his match-up with Aguero should be particularly interesting to watch.

His opposite number, Vincent company would have been a walk-in to any team in the premier league, such is the presence of the Belgian. Unfortunately for Pellegrini, the captain is once again absent, courtesy of another injury picked up while on Champions League duty. City’s other options in the centre of defence are nowhere near as good as Kompany. In fact, they've often been disastrous, with Mangala in particular seeming to lack any sort of communication with his defensive partners.

In this respect, Daley Blind gets the nod, despite still not being a true centre back. The Dutchman is not one who has the build or the physical presence of a conventional centre back, but his understanding with Smalling and brilliant reading of the game makes up for it in the absence of other options for Van Gaal.

#3 Midfield

City fans will be hoping Yaya Toure has in mind in the right place for the derby

Fernandinho has had a good start to the season and has carried that forward up till now. In his own characteristically understated fashion, he has been vital in winning back the ball and is the archetypal ball-winning tough tackling defensive midfielder.

To pair up wth Fernandinho in midfield, the typical choice would have been either Schweinsteiger or Schneiderlin, and both players are available, with the German coming off the end of a two-month lay-off due to injury. Schneiderlin, on the other hand, has impressed in flashes but has not shown the consistency that made United pay up so much to prise him off from Southampton.The inconsistency of United’s midfield general’s sees Yaya Toure slot in beside his teammate. Admittedly, it had been one his poorest season’s in a city shirt, but his ability to score from almost anywhere, as well as the huge physical presence that he brings, will be a huge factor against a depleted United side.

Ahead of them in the number 10 position is Juan Mata. In the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, who is missing through injury, Mata who has been influential for United whenever they’ve scored, is a sure shot selection. In his favoured position in the centre of the midfield, he is capable of wreaking havoc with defence-splitting passes, and will be crucial if United are to have any chance of scoring.

#4 Attack

The United defence will have a tough time keeping Sergio Aguero quiet

There is no question as to who the striker is in this team. Sergio Aguero, on his day, is the best striker in the Premier league, if not the world.

The only other challenger to the slot would’ve been Wayne Rooney, who has an impressive record in this particular fixture, and had been on good form before picking up an injury that sees him miss the game. But even the England captain is no match for Aguero at his best.

Granted, he doesn’t sit at the top of the league scoring charts, but despite playing just 22 games, he is just 3 goals shy of league leaders Vardy and Kane who are on 19 goals.If Aguero finds his rhythm, then a depleted United side are as good as done and dusted. The United defence are going to have one hell of a job trying to keep the Argentine quiet.

Joining him on either flank of the advanced midfield are David Silva on the right and Anthony Martial on the left.

Silva is an obvious choice, and would walk into any team in the premier league. It is a telling fact that despite not being on his best form, and despite playing just 21 games due to injury, he has already racked up 10 assists. One wonders where City would now stand if the trident of De Bruyne, Silva and Aguero had all been fit and firing all season.

The left flank is a toss up between the two teenagers who both made mega transfers in the summer. While it is questionable whether they’ve both lived up to their insane price tags, Martial for one has certainly taken on the challenge. He has been at the forefront of any decent move forward for United this season.

The Frenchman is the joint top-scorer for United and has already started building a reputation for taking up the big matches head-on. Sterling on the other hand, even with far more experience in the league has been an on-and-off performer for City, and his inconsistency sees his drop to the bench in this pick.

Formation : 4-2-1-2-1

Substitutes: Joe Hart, Bacary Sagna, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Memphis Depay, Michael Carrick