Rio Ferdinand has argued that six first-team Manchester United players are now “in with a shout” of getting into Manchester City’s starting XI.
City, who are five points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal, will travel to Old Trafford on Saturday for the hotly anticipated Manchester derby.
Pep Guardiola’s men were dumped out of the League Cup on Wednesday in a shock 2-0 quarter-final defeat to Southampton at the St Mary’s.
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City also dropped valuable points against relegation-threatened Everton after the Premier League resumed following the World Cup in Qatar.
United, on the other hand, are in brilliant form since the World Cup and sit inside the top four of the Premier League table.
The Red Devils are undefeated in their last six competitive fixtures under United manager Erik ten Hag.
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United will face Reading in the fourth round of the FA Cup after beating Everton 3-1 and will clash with Nottingham Forest in the League Cup semi-finals after they swept aside Charlton Athletic.
Ten Hag’s men could climb to third place in the league table and would sit only one point behind City if they beat the defending Premier League champions on Saturday.
Speaking ahead of the Manchester derby, Ferdinand praised the form of six United players after the Premier League club’s remarkable turnaround this season.
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According to Ferdinand, Marcus Rashford, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane could make it into City’s XI.
However, the United legend added that City are “way ahead” of the Red Devils and there is “still work to be done” for his former club.
“On form, Marcus Rashford would have to be in the team,” Ferdinand told The Sun.
“Christian Eriksen would be in with a shout, Bruno Fernandes would be in with a shout. Casemiro or Rodri is a massive one in terms of form, the two best holding midfielders in the league.
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“Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane would have an argument to get in the team as well, so you could put a good case forward.
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“Definitely, the distance is a bit closer but it’s still not anywhere near where we want it to be. There is still work to be done.
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“The fact you can have an argument over four or five players getting into the team, or to have a conversation about it at least, is a step in the right direction.
“But, let’s not get it twisted. City are way ahead of where Man United are.”
Topics: Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United, Manchester City, Premier League, England, Football
Adnan Riaz