Man Utd’s chastised midfielder earns place in Man City mixed XI
Published:Manchester City’s faltering form combined with Manchester United’s best performance of the season at home to Chelsea last time out, makes for a particularly intriguing forthcoming derby at the Etihad.
The odds are still favourable for the champions, priced up as 17/20 shots at home. However, after a peak at our combined Manchester derby XI, some Ladbrokes’ customers may feel the braver 3/1 punt on United could pay dividends or at least the 14/5 on the draw.
The decision to plump for David De Gea over Joe Hart between the sticks was a difficult one to reach, but based on recent form the United man is granted ownership of the gloves.
It won’t come as a shock to many that United’s involvement in the back five is limited thereafter and even Rafael’s inclusion, though he’s played well recently, has more to do with Pablo Zabaleta’s dodgy form than anything else.
Vincent Kompany is a shoo-in, while it’s an indictment that United’s current selection of centre-backs can’t keep out veteran City man Martin Demichelis, while Gael Clichy is given raiding duties down the left.
Leaving the defence behind, United really come into their own though and not least with the notable inclusion of Marouane Fellaini alongside Yaya Toure in the engine room.
Fellaini’s Old Trafford-redemption is only two games old, but he has impressed enough to earn his moment in the sun.
Returning from suspension, where he had been in fine form before his red card, Wayne Rooney is afforded the number 10 role.
That leaves British record signing and teammate Angel Di Maria the left-sided forward slot, while City maestro David Silva is the Premier League’s gold standard from the right.
Despite a quiet couple of games, Sergio Aguero has to be trusted to lead the line given his 11-goal haul in the early stages of the season.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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