Sterling and De Gea miss out on Ultimate Manchester Derby XI

It's the Manchester Derby this weekend as Manchester United seek to end their dire home record to kick off the season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has overseen just one home win in 2020/21, that coming in a 1-0 victory over relegation fodder West Brom. Given the array of attacking talent on offer, United have scored just three goals at Old Trafford this season, and just the once from open play, so Solskjaer will be looking to secure a comprehensive victory over Manchester City. 

However, if the WhoScored Combined XI is anything to go by, it could be a long 90 minutes for United at Old Trafford. Using our unique rating system of players to have made five or more Premier League outings this season, City thump United 7-4 in this side. 

Between the sticks, Ederson (6.36) features in place of David De Gea (6.19). In fact, of every regular goalkeeper this term, only Mat Ryan (6.11) has a lower WhoScored rating than De Gea, which isn't a promising sign as United gear up to face a City outfit that has scored in all but one Premier League match this season. 

Two of the four United representatives come in defence, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka (6.94) nipping in ahead of Kyle Walker (6.81) for the place at right-back in this XI. On the opposite flank, City man Joao Cancelo (7.35) is the fifth best rated player of the two teams having impressed from left-back for Pep Guardiola's side in 2020/21. 

At the heart of the defence, Cancelo's international teammate Ruben Dias (6.75) makes the grade having made a solid impact following his arrival from Benfica. He is joined by United defender Harry Maguire (6.87). Maguire has endured a mixed campaign to date, but after a disappointing start to the season, has looked better in recent outings to join Dias at the back in this XI. 

Anchoring the midfield is Rodri (6.91) and his inclusion means there is no place in the XI for Paul Pogba (6.55). The Frenchman may have earned the WhoScored man of the match award in his last league outing, but a lack of consistency has hindered his average rating for the Premier League campaign. 

The star power in this fixture rounds off the midfield as Bruno Fernandes (7.65) and Kevin De Bruyne (7.56) join forces for this sublime pairing in the middle of the park. The duo between them have had a direct hand in 19 league goals between them this season, a fine return for two central midfielders. 

The frontline would undoubtedly benefit from a midfield pair of Fernandes and De Bruyne pulling the strings. Gabriel Jesus (7.42) leads the line having scored two and assisted one from his five league outings in a City shirt this season. The Brazilian has never scored against United in his eight appearances, but the weekend's Manchester Derby would be as good a time as any to end that drought. 

On the right wing, Riyad Mahrez (7.48) has had a direct hand in five league goals this season, including a hat-trick in City's recent 5-0 win over Burnley. However, the Algerian has a poor record against United, netting just once in his career, though that did come in a 3-1 win at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup earlier this year. 

Rounding off the XI is Manchester United's Marcus Rashford (7.18) who has scored three goals and provided four assists in the Premier League this season. The United star keeps Raheem Sterling (6.98) out of this side and is the fourth and final player for Solskjaer's side in a team dominated by City.