Manchester City v Manchester United: Combined XI

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Manager Jose Mourinho of Manchester United watches from the touchline in the last Manchester derby. (Photo by John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images) /

It is derby week in the Premier League! Sunderland take on Middlesbrough, Arsenal take on Tottenham and Manchester United take on Manchester City. We have put together a combined XI from the Manchester derby for you to debate and enjoy!

This Manchester derby has unusually low stakes for a game this time of year. There have been few seasons in the history of the Premier League where one of these teams wasn’t fighting for the title in April. Instead this year the Manchester derby holds the key to Champions League qualification next year. There is a theory that Jose Mourinho with rest some players and focus on qualification through the Europa League. I’m not buying it. Mourinho wants this one.

The formation we have chosen for the combined XI is a 3-5-2 setup. While neither team normally play in this formation both teams have used it this term. The simple matter is there is barely a good defender between these side and there is an abundance of quality midfielders.

The only player who may feel hard done by this formation in Antonio Valencia. He has cemented himself as Man Utd’s first choice right back and has performed well overall. He would be in the lineup if this was a 4-4-2 but I would just rather have the stellar midfielders.

So here it is, our Manchester derby combined XI:

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