Man Utd vs Man City LIVE: Premier League team news, line-ups and latest updates ahead of Manchester derby

But for Murillo’s injury-time goal-line clearance, it would have seemed an inspired change by Ruben Amorim. As it is, it may look like a move that stemmed more from desperation than inspiration.

A Manchester derby will occur without a player with two hat-tricks in them, plus the scorer of probably the most celebrated goal of Amorim’s time at Old Trafford: Amad Diallo delivered a dramatic winner at the Etihad Stadium. It was both an anomaly – Amorim’s other best Premier League results are arguably draws, against Liverpool and Arsenal – and typical: United’s goalscorers that day were Bruno Fernandes and Amad.

Neither is a striker. Indeed, Fernandes has often operated in central midfield for Amorim while Amad has not played at all for eight weeks. And yet they are United’s two top scorers in the Portuguese’s reign.

There’ll be no Erling Haaland for Manchester City today, of course, with the striker set to miss perhaps as much as seven weeks of action. But the Norwegian has pinched the line of another terminator as he sets his sights on a return:

Pep Guardiola feels Kevin De Bruyne’s glittering Manchester City career has been “extraordinary”.

The Belgium playmaker announced on Friday he would leave City when his contract expires at the end of the season.

In a glorious decade at the club, the 33-year-old has won 16 trophies, including six Premier Leagues and the Champions League, and scored 106 goals and made 174 assists in 413 appearances.

Yet after two seasons of declining returns due in no small part to injury problems, both club and player have come to an acceptance that the time is right to part ways.

City manager Guardiola said: “There are players who are unique, who represent what the club wants to be, and Kevin is one of them.”

Ruben Amorim feels fortune was on his side in previous meetings with Manchester City and knows Manchester United need to be more than “lucky” if he is to overcome Pep Guardiola for a third time this term.

Sunday’s Old Trafford clash is the most low-key derby in years, with the Red Devils 13th in the table and the previously all-conquering visitors fighting for a Champions League spot in fifth.

City won an unprecedented four Premier League titles in a row before struggling for coherency and consistency this season, with the nadir being a rotten end to 2024.

Amorim inflicted two of City’s nine defeats during a 12-game period, with November’s stunning 4-1 Champions League win with Sporting Lisbon followed by overseeing United’s 2-1 turnaround at the Etihad Stadium the following month.

Derby day is always special in Manchester, but could this be the lowest-calibre meeting between these two for decades? Richard Jolly makes the case…

Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s Manchester derby in the Premier League.

City enter the game looking to consolidate a place in next season’s Champions League, while United are simply playing for pride as they start the weekend in 13th.

We’ll have all the latest team news and updates here.