Manchester United

Image source, Reuters

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says he was never contacted about being a potential successor to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola: "Never, I never had [conversations]. This was my only option.

"When Manchester United talked to me, I have no doubts because I had already something in my mind that it could be a possibility. And with Manchester City or Hugo Viana, nothing about that."

Manchester United

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says Jonny Evans is back in training for the Reds, after the centre-back missed Thursday's win at Viktoria Plzen: "Some players were tired in the end, you could see it, also because of the transitions it was a crazy game in the end today.

"But I think everyone is going to be fit and ready to win the game. [Evans is] training already."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Diego Leon's move to Manchester United is nearing completion.

The 17-year-old defender, who has made an impact in his native Paraguay with Cerro Porteno, has flown to England to seal a deal his club has said could be worth £6m.

It is not entirely clear what United's initial plan for the player will be.

The assumption is he will go out on loan - possibly remaining at his parent club - initially.

Shortly we'll be hearing from Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, as well.

What a derby it promises to be on Sunday. Don't forget to have your say in our poll at the top of this page.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Image source, Rex Features

Last night seemed like a significant half hour in the short-term future of Manchester United.

We all know Ruben Amorim has limited time to get used to his new squad. We also suspect - quite strongly - it is not good enough for the levels United's history demands.

But Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund in particular put a marker down for their involvement over the coming weeks and months.

Mount put in arguably his most effective display as a United player after replacing Joshua Zirkzee after an hour - and was unfortunate not to get his name on the scoresheet.

Hojlund took his tally for the season to seven - and more tellingly five in the last four games. It means he is the top scorer in Amorim's six games as head coach.

Amorim is still trying to work on his best formation. But having already decided Marcus Rashford is not a number nine, presumably Hojlund is cementing himself as first choice in that position.

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on having a depleted defence: "I don’t know what I have to do. I need players. We have three but we will see what happens.

"Maybe some winger will have to play as a full-back or maybe we play with five at the back.

"We are thinking what to do, but the soul and spirit of the team is there. I am sad for the players.

"I know and completely understand our fans may be sad. This group of players have made an era and done things no one else has done. Broken records. I just call the supporters to be there until the end.

"We have more injuries than ever and it’s made me think that you need a squad of 45/50 players. It would be more expensive for the summer but maybe you need more depth of squad.

"The schedule is the problem, it’s not the physios, doctors or players. This is the truth."

Chris Collinson
BBC football statistician

United have their lowest points total after 15 matches in the Premier League era. City's total is their lowest at this stage since 2010-11.

Going into this weekend's fixtures, United are 13th and City were fourth.

City have taken just four points from their past six Premier League games. No other team has taken fewer over that period - and only Southampton match that tally.

If you combine the two teams' results, this is Manchester's worst Premier League start since 2002, the year City returned to the top flight. City and United have a joint total of 46 points from 30 games between them. They had 11 more points between them at this stage last season, and 32 more points in 2017-18.

This is the first Premier League Manchester derby with neither team in the top three at the start of the day since a goalless draw at Old Trafford on 12 December 2020.

Alex Keble
Football tactics writer

Will United copy Palace?

After last Saturday's 2-2 draw with Manchester City, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner's spoke candidly about how he felt he could exploit their current struggles.

"We knew we can play a higher intensity [than City] - all the data showed this," Glasner said. "We knew when we get into the transitions, we'd get in behind.

"There was so much space on the opposite side next to [Ilkay] Gundogan. When you play with one number six, 4-1-4-1, like City are playing, there is a lot of space on the left and right of the number six."

Not many players are truly irreplaceable but I think we can agree Rodri is one.

How excited are we for the Manchester derby then? Here's some more info to get you in the mood...

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on whether he will look for a player to replace Rodri in the January transfer window: "If we need players then we go to the transfer market but I don't know who is around.

"We have known it from the beginning but Rodri is a Ballon D'Or player. We are playing without the best player in England last season. That is the problem.

"Not one other team plays with a central defender who has a Ballon D'or. It is difficult.

"The moment he comes back, we will be strong again. We will be a good team.

"Of course, we still have to try and play the same way and to win. Sooner or later we are going to be back."

Manchester City

On the Manchester derby, Pep Guardiola said: "It is a football game. It is emotional for the fans and it has been special in recent years.

"In these type of games the less emotional you are the better."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on Kyle Walker being racially abused on Instagram: "First of all it is not acceptable. Not just because it's Kyle, but for any human being. Unfortunately in this world it happens many times.

"Of course, he has the support from the entire club."

Manchester City

Giving an update on Manuel Akanji's injury, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said: "It is discomfort in the area of the pelvis. It doesn’t feel good. He made an incredible effort playing against Bournemouth. He wasn’t even at half of his best but at the end he had to step back.

"He’s such a strong and reliable player but he cannot be there [on Sunday]."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on the financial accounts that were published on Friday and whether that means they can strengthen in January: "What I want is my players back. The complete squad we had at the beginning of the season. My regret is that we don’t we have these and not needing new ones.

"Massive congratulations on the accounts because the club must be sustainable. That doesn’t mean we have big, big resources to buy whatever we want, especially with how expensive the transfer market is."

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on how he is finding the situation they are in: "In our jobs we will always do our best and when the best doesn’t happen you are more uncomfortable than when the situation is going well. As a manager you are in scrutiny for every step of the team.

"But I am fine. I have more thoughts at this moment but what I feel right now is the same as what I’ve said for the last few weeks or month. Nothing has changed.

"I’m really pleased with the way we’ve played. I know from my career when we are playing good and not so good.

"We have to shoot more and cut out the mistakes. But we have been in the games.

"We have not been consistent for the 90 minutes but I know the reason why. We just have to keep working and moving forward."

Tottenham Hotspur

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton and Spurs meet on Sunday with both managers frequently under scrutiny for their style of play. Bold? Brave? Naive?

Well, whatever it is, we're calling it the Principles of Play derby.

Russell Martin was full of praise for Ange Postecoglou on Thursday and the Tottenham boss has returned the compliment.

On Southampton's style, he said: "They've played some pretty exciting football against good teams. Russell will just be frustrated they've not sustained it or got rewards for it".

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Who could have believed when Erik ten Hag was sacked as Manchester United manager on 28 October, Manchester City would head into Sunday's derby at the Etihad Stadium in as big a mess as the men from Old Trafford.

City have won once since - against Nottingham Forest last weekend.

They are out of the EFL Cup, teetering on the brink in the Champions League and adrift of Liverpool in the Premier League.

United are not in the greatest form but Pep Guardiola is struggling for answers.

Guardiola will be speaking to the media shortly.

Image source, BBC Sport

The qualifying groups for the 2026 World Cup have been drawn this morning. Here's who is playing who...

Group A: Winner of Germany v Italy, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg.

Group C: Loser of Portugal v Denmark, Greece, Scotland, Belarus.

Group F: Winner of Portugal v Denmark, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia.

Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein.

Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra.

Get all the reaction to that one here.

Tottenham Hotspur

Plenty of you have been in touch this morning to say Ange Postecoglou's public criticism of Timo Werner has been over the top. There is no suggestion that Werner himself is affronted - but if he is then it doesn't sound like his complaints would get too far.

"If there’s somebody in the dressing room who’s fit who feels he needs something extra in this moment, he’s probably not the right type," Postecoglou said.

"I’m not going to go around trying to get extra out of people. If they’re not able to give extra now, it probably says something of the type.

"Timo is not where our season is at. It's not about Timo. It's not about bringing somebody down and blaming somebody. We've got a limited number of players. It's a great challenge. I want people who are up for that challenge."