“Football is unpredictable,” Mourinho said. “As a manager, I can try to define a game plan and work a direction but you don’t know what can happen. There are so many things that are out of my control that can totally transform the direction of the game.

“For me, it’s one more big match against one of the best teams in the country. We are a better team than last year – I think Man City is also better than last season.”

City are unbeaten in the league this season but did lose their first game of the campaign in midweek when they were beaten 2-1 by Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

“I am a manager to play these kinds of games on the biggest stages. That’s why we are here,” Pep Guardiola said. “I will enjoy it, definitely. I am looking forward to arriving and playing. I love to be there, working out what we can do to beat them. After, we shake hands.

“Winning, drawing or losing, we are not going to win or lose the Premier League. It’s an important game because you can win points but it’s the same for them. All we are thinking is how to play well and win the game.”

Team news

Although Ibrahimovic, Jones and Matic are available for United, midfielder Marouane Fellaini will be assessed ahead of the game.

Paul Pogba starts a three-match ban on Sunday after he was sent off in last weekend’s win at Arsenal, joining captain Michael Carrick and defender Eric Bailly on the sidelines.

Manchester City playmaker David Silva is fit for the Old Trafford trip after overcoming a knock but captain Vincent Kompany is doubtful with an unspecified problem.

Makeshift left-back Fabian Delph has recovered from a sickness bug but defenders John Stones (hamstring) and Benjamin Mendy (knee) are still out.

Opta stats

After losing four Premier League games in a row against Manchester City, Manchester United have lost just one of their last five derbies against them (W2 D2 L1).

No away side has scored more Premier League goals at Old Trafford than Manchester City (27 – level with Chelsea) while only Chelsea (6) have won more games there as the visiting side in the competition than City (5).

Manchester United have lost seven of their last 12 league games against their local rivals (W3 D2 L7) – as many as they had lost in their previous 45 in league competition against them (W22 D16 L7).

ose Mourinho’s side are on the longest current unbeaten home run in the Premier League (24 games – W14 D10 L0), with their last such defeat at Old Trafford coming against Manchester City in September 2016 (1-2).

Manchester City have now won 13 successive league matches – a joint-record within a single top-flight season, alongside Chelsea (2016-17), Arsenal (2001-02), Preston and Sunderland (both 1891-92).

If Pep Guardiola’s side win this match then they will equal the all-time English top-flight league record of 14 consecutive victories; set by Arsenal between February and August 2002.

Jose Mourinho has won just four of his 19 managerial meetings with Pep Guardiola in all competitions (W4 D7 L8), with just one of those wins coming in league competition (2-1 with Real Madrid at Barcelona in April 2012).

These are the two tightest defences in the Premier League this season, with Manchester United (9) having conceded one goal fewer than Manchester City (10); this despite facing more than double the tally of shots on target (64 v 27).

Gabriel Jesus has been directly involved in 21 goals in his 24 Premier League appearances so far in his career (15 goals, six assists).

Merson’s prediction

United have to win, now they have beaten Arsenal. If they had drawn at Arsenal, a win over City would still leave them too far back. Now United have had two massive results at Watford and Arsenal, they actually have to take the game to City now.

These are the games you look forward to all week, but often these games disappoint. This one will be different though. Jose Mourinho is a master in these big games at setting up to contain the opposition, but they really have to have a go on Sunday. Paul Pogba will be a big miss, and if he was playing, then I would go for United, but they will have enough not to get beaten. City are chasing records, so will also have a go. I can’t wait.