On Sunday afternoon, the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City will take place at the Etihad Stadium. 

Last season, United lost both at home and away in the Manchester derby. Erik ten Hag will be hoping for a better showing this weekend, as his team is in excellent form with 12 points in their last four league games.

With a 3-1 victory over Arsenal, the Reds won four straight Premier League games for the first time since April 2021. They'll be hoping to keep up their good form, but City will pose their biggest challenge of the season so far. 

Erling Haaland has established himself as a prolific goal scorer, and since Pep Guardiola's team has the most goals in the Premier League this season (23) Raphael Varane and Linsadro Martinez, who are anticipated to start in defense, will need to stop him. 

Harry Maguire has been ruled out of the game, and Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford will need to pass a final fitness check before the play.

These are the positions our MEN writers believe United should take. 

John Luckhurst 

Ten Hag's team news release lacked clarity, and you had to wonder whether there was an intentional undertone of cloak and dagger about it. 

However fantastic Martial was in the first half against Liverpool in August, starting him after just 45 minutes of action in two months would be ridiculous. Rashford has benefited from Ten Hag's in-game management of moving him to the left and may be the younger attacker, but Martial is undoubtedly more suited to the No. 9 position than Rashford. The fact that starting Rashford or Martial above Cristiano Ronaldo has become advised is a reflection of Ten Hag's influence. 

Casemiro would have been a lock for this game if he had started when he ought to have against Leicester, but Scott McTominay has earned his place. 

Simply said, one change 

Rich Fay 

Ten Hag courageously asserted that concentrating on his own team's capabilities rather than worrying about those of the opposition will provide his team the best opportunity of defeating City this coming weekend. He could live to regret such a course of action. 

Though that doesn't imply he should think about playing with a back-five, a counter-attacking approach still looks to be the best option. They now have a strong defensive line, and that should continue.

McTominay is deserving of keeping his position in midfield, and Casemiro should start on the bench. Christian Eriksen is unstoppable, therefore Bruno Fernandes and his inventiveness will probably be the key to United's chances of scoring. 

Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Martial—if healthy—should all get off to strong starts up front. If not, Anthony Elanga, a game-changer from the bench, should join Ronaldo in the dynamic forward line. 

Martial might go back to the side. 

Robert Railston 

There is no reason to alter the starting lineups from United's last four Premier League games against Liverpool, Southampton, Leicester, and Arsenal because they impressively earned a maximum of 12 points.

The back four have performed admirably lately, but this game is the true test. McTominay, who deserves to start at the Etihad after boosting the caliber of his performances since Casemiro's arrival, will need to defend Martinez and Varane. 

Casemiro can contribute from the bench in the closing minutes; his background in significant events may be helpful. Rashford must start in the middle of the field since United will need to effectively press and quickly counterattack in this game. 

Ronaldo lacks the speed to get in behind, which would seem to be the most likely way for United to score. 

Rashford might be the line leader.