Erling Haaland has Manchester United in his sights this weekend as Manchester City host their cross-town rivals at the start of a season-defining spell for the Premier League champions.
Pep Guardiola’s men, chasing an unprecedented fourth straight English top-flight crown, boast an impressive recent record against United but know they cannot afford a slip-up in a tight title tussle.
Leaders Liverpool are strongly fancied to see off Nottingham Forest despite their injury problems, while free-scoring Arsenal face relegation threatened Sheffield United.
The Manchester derby appeared to be shaping up to be a tasty face-off between Haaland and Rasmus Hojlund until the in-from United forward sustained a muscle injury.
Norway international Haaland scored five times in the 6-2 FA Cup win against Luton in midweek to take his tally to 27 in 30 appearances in all competitions this season despite two months out injured.
In stark contrast Marcus Rashford, United’s leading man last season, has mustered just five goals, leaving his side blunt in attack at the Etihad in the absence of Hojlund, who is likely to be missing on Sunday.