Man City XI vs Man United: Gianluigi Donnarumma debut, confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest

Italy’s No1 will hope to make his Manchester City bow in the big derby showdown

Pep Guardiola has plenty of selection dilemmas on his hands as he plots victory for Manchester City over Manchester United .

Man City host the first Manchester derby of the season on Sunday afternoon hoping to end a run of successive defeats after losing to Tottenham and Brighton before the international break.

The pause in the campaign has brought about mixed injury news for City . On one hand, it has been confirmed Omar Marmoush will play no part against Man United after sustaining a knee injury whilst on international duty with Egypt .

Marmoush is one of four absentees alongside Rayan Ait-Nouri, Ryan Cherki and Mateo Kovacic.

John Stones is a doubt after withdrawing from the England squad for their World Cup qualification double-header against Andorra and Serbia, but the good news is that Phil Foden, Josko Gvardiol, Savinho and Abdukodir Khusanov are expected to be fit .

In the cases of Gvardiol and Savinho, they could be in contention to make their first appearances of the season. Elsewhere, Khusanov has shaken off the knock that forced him off in the closing stages at Brighton and Foden will hope to finally kick-start his campaign.

There is a decision to make in goal as Deadline Day signing Gianluigi Donnarumma is hopeful of dislodging James Trafford, but Guardiola has played his cards lose to his chest with regards to the selection.

James Trafford has started all three of Manchester City’s Premier League games this season

Getty Images

“James Trafford is a keeper for Man City . The keepers I can only play one,” Guardiola told reporters. “I can play with two full backs and two centre backs during a game, but the season is so long.

“Now starts the real season with many games and everybody will be involved.

“Now we have the potential of Gigi, of James and the players that we have and we will use them.

“It’s going to happen.”

Ruben Dias and Rico Lewis are pushing for recalls after substitute appearances at the Amex. Rodri should be fine to start a second Premier League game in a row after being used sparingly by Spain during the international break.

Fresh from scoring six goals across two games for Norway, Erling Haaland is a guaranteed starter as he bids to maintain his early lead in the Golden Boot race.

Predicted Man City XI: Trafford; Lewis, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodri, Reijnders, Silva; Bobb, Haaland, Doku

Injured: Cherki, Ait-Nouri, Kovacic

Doubts: Stones

Time and date: 4.30pm BST on Sunday, September 14, 2025

How to watch: Sky Sports

Venue: Etihad Stadium