Alright so today I was trying to figure out how City and United might line up this weekend. Woke up early, poured a massive coffee, and fired up the laptop. First thing I did was hop online, right? Wanted to see what the latest chatter was about injuries and who’s fit.
Started poking around football sites. Always messy trying to separate the rumors from actual news. One site had Pep quoted about “assessing the squad” – classic Pep speak meaning “I ain’t telling you nothing yet.” Over on the United side, ten Hag was being cagey too. That guy, honestly.
My initial thoughts: City’s defence picks itself if everyone’s fit, right? Ederson in goal. Stones and Dias center-backs. Walker sprinting down that right. Figured Pep might tweak the midfield though. You know Rodri is nailed on as that rock, but beside him? Could be Bernardo tucking in, or maybe Kovacic gets a start. Honestly, it’s like picking lottery numbers sometimes with Pep.
For United, the big question was always that backline. Varane and Martinez both carrying knocks? Yeah. So I started scribbling down options:
- Option 1: Shaw slots inside with Maguire? Yikes.
- Option 2: Bring Evans back? Feels like 2010.
- Option 3: Stick Lindelof there and pray. Scary.
Decided United probably goes:
- Onana
- Dalot – Lindelof – Evans – Shaw? (Gasping for Martinez, honestly)
- Casemiro deep
- Mainoo? Mount? No clue in midfield chaos
- Bruno
- Garnacho – Hojlund – Rashford
Then I remembered McTominay exists. Could he start? Who knows with ten Hag. It’s chaos over there.
Went back to City’s attack. Haaland? Obvious. But who plays wide? Grealish coming back from being kicked to bits? Or does Doku just burn Shaw all day? I’d lean toward Doku for pure chaos factor. Foden buzzing behind Haaland makes sense. He’s in scary good form.
Got totally sidetracked here. Friend pinged me on WhatsApp arguing for Alvarez starting over Foden in the middle. Spent 20 minutes debating that instead of finishing my lineup sheet. Classic.
Okay, putting it all together, this is how I reckon they line up:
City:
- Ederson
- Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake
- Rodri
- Bernardo, Foden (pushed up!)
- Doku, Haaland, Grealish
And United:
- Onana
- Dalot, Lindelof, Evans, Shaw
- Casemiro, Mainoo
- Antony (haha), Bruno, Rashford
- Hojlund
Forgot Antony existed! Had Garnacho originally but suddenly remembered ten Hag loves playing him on the left, shoving Rashford up top and benching Hojlund? Naaah, that doesn’t feel right today. Stuck with Hojlund through the middle. Changed it three times. My notes look like a toddler scribbled on them.
Finished my third coffee. Brain buzzing. Probably got half of it wrong, but it’s the best guess based on all the scraps thrown our way this week. Just gotta wait for Pep and ten Hag to actually announce it and prove me totally wrong. Standard!
