The 163rd Manchester derby provides a selection poser for Sir Alex Ferguson as he decides who to deploy in midfield and how to shape the side. With Anderson, Antonio Valencia, Nani, Shinji Kagawa and Tom Cleverley all injured, the choice comes down to a 4-2-3-1 with Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher/Paul Scholes as the holding midfielders, or a diamond formation with Wayne Rooney at the tip. For Manchester City, who could be without Gaël Clichy and David Silva, defeat would be a sizeable blow given they are three points behind United. Jamie Jackson
Venue Etihad Stadium
Tickets Sold out
Last season Man City 1 Man United 0
Referee Martin Atkinson
This season's matches 12 Y47, R1, 4.00 cards per game
Odds Man City 6-5 Man Utd 21-10 Draw 12-5
Man City
Subs from Pantilimon, Wright, Clichy, García, K Touré, Razak, Sinclair, Tchuimeni-Nimley, Dzeko, Lescott
Doubtful Clichy (ankle), Silva (hamstring) Injured Rodwell (hamstring, 15 Dec), Milner (hamstring, 15 Dec), Richards (knee, 28 Dec), Guidetti (leg, unknown), Kolarov (ankle, unknown) Suspended None
Form guide DWDWWD Disciplinary record Y17 R1
Leading scorer Tevez 7
Man Utd
Subs from Lindegaard, Johnstone, Buttner, Powell, Macheda, Bébé, Henríquez, Cleverley Hernández, Jones, Smalling, Scholes
Doubtful Cleverley (calf) Injured Vidic (knee, 15 Dec), Valencia (hip, 22 Dec), Kagawa (knee, 15 Dec), Nani (hamstring, Jan), Anderson (hamstring, Jan)
Suspended None Form guide WWWLWW
Disciplinary record Y23 R0
Leading scorer Van Persie 10
Match pointers
• There have been just five goals scored in the last six league meetings between these sides at the Etihad Stadium and no more than one in any of those games
• City and United have been awarded more penalties than any other side in the Premier League since the start of the 2010-11 season (21)
• The only two players to score at a rate of less than 100 minutes per goal this campaign are Javier Hernández (78.2) and Edin Dzeko (92.8)
• If selected Darren Fletcher will make his 200th Premier League appearance for United
