Mix n Match: City dominate midfield in Manchester team

David Moyes and Manuel Pellegrini take charge of their first Manchester derby this weekend, as United head to the Etihad in a vital early clash in this season’s title race.

City are 23/20 favourites to win the match, and 23/10 to win the Premier League, with United priced at 9/4 to win at the Etihad and 16/5 to defend their league title.

Both squads are chock full of expensive stars but which of their players from would make a combined 11?

There is a tough choice in goal, where many would expect Joe Hart to be installed after winning the Premier League golden glove for the past three seasons.

However, the English keeper’s increasingly errant displays, coupled with David De Gea’s growing maturity between the sticks, make the Spaniard first choice.

There is less debate about the full-back slots, with Patrice Evra and Pablo Zabaleta clear choices given their inauspicious rivals for the positions.

Four centre-backs compete for two positions in the heart of defence, with United’s pair of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand and City’s Vincent Kompany and Matija Nastasic all good choices.

However, the consistency of Kompany and Ferdinand over recent seasons means they get the nod, even if the Serbian pair can feel slightly aggrieved to be consigned to the bench.

The two-man central midfield picks itself, with Michael Carrick and Yaya Toure not only among the best in the Premier League, but well-suited to play with one another.

Both City and United generally play with three attacking players behind a central striker, and so this is the system to use in the combined 11.

City take all three spots behind the forward, who is inevitably Robin Van Persie. David Silva is positioned on the left, with Jesus Navas on the right.

Behind Van Persie is Sergio Aguero, who just edges out Wayne Rooney. He, along with Manchester United’s other attackers, will have to battle for a spot on the bench.

Full team (4-2-3-1): De Gea – Zabaleta, Ferdinand, Kompany, Evra – Carrick, Toure – Navas, Aguero, Silva – Van Persie.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing

Bet Now. New customers can bet £10 and get £30 in free bets