Premier League champions Manchester United take on city-rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford on Tuesday night in a fixture of huge importance to both sides, and this is the starting lineup we believe Red Devils manager David Moyes will send out …
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GK: David de Gea
The young Spaniard has been one of United’s most impressive performers so far in what has been an otherwise desperately disappointing campaign for the champions.
RB: Rafael
There are few other real alternatives at right back to the Brazilian, although he does provide the team with an attacking outlet at most times down their right flank, even if his defending is at times highly questionable.
CB: Jonny Evans
The experienced Northern Ireland international should earn a recall for the visit of City to the Theatre of Dreams on Tuesday as Moyes looks to strengthen his back four for what is sure to be a firm examination of the home team’s defence.
CB: Phil Jones
Another tricky night awaits the young England international in the north west, although after a welcome and much-needed clean sheet against West Ham United at Upton Park on Saturday, the versatile centre back should be full of confidence for the visit of City.
LB: Patrice Evra
United’s captain was rested to the substitutes’ bench for the Red Devils’ trip to the east end of London on the weekend after appearing to injure himself against Liverpool in their previous Premier League outing, but Moyes will be desperate to have the France international back in his starting XI against City.
CM: Michael Carrick
While still clearly not back to his very best after recovering from an achilles’ tendon injury, the English holding midfielder is still an absolutely vital member of the Premier League champions’ lineup, and even more so against a team boasting so many attacking talents.
CM: Marouane Fellaini
The giant Belgium is another player at Old Trafford who is gradually starting to play somewhere near his very best after a recent injury layoff, and what a time for the £27.5m summer signing from Everton to make a real impact than against the club’s city rivals?
CM: Shinji Kagawa
Finally the brilliant Japanese playmaker got chosen to start in midfield by Moyes against the Hammers on Saturday night, with the player responding with an encouraging display, and so making his inclusion against the Blues now a mere formality on Tuesday.
LW: Ashley Young
Preferred instead of Adnan Januzaj on the left wing at West Ham on the weekend, the England international just did enough to convince and keep his place for the club’s biggest match of their entire campaign to date.
ST: Wayne Rooney
What is there now left for the frontman do produce after his stunning wonder goal against the Hammers on Saturday, although City fans will need no reminding of just what the Englishman is capable of producing after his overhead kick strike against them four years ago.
RW: Juan Mata
The club-record £37.1m signing from Chelsea in January has still to really find his feet as yet in the north west, but what better time to make yourself a true United hero than by scoring the winner against City on Tuesday?