Man Utd vs Man City starting line-ups confirmed: No Phil Foden in XI while Fred selected

Manchester United and Manchester City have announced their starting XIs for Saturday’s FA Cup final.

For the Blues, Pep Guardiola has opted to start with Nathan Ake, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden on the bench and reinstate Jack Grealish to the team. The former Aston Villa man has not started any of the last three with a knock and only returned to training on Wednesday after a nearly two-week layoff.

Ruben Dias, who is in a similar situation to Grealish has been handed a starting berth, while Manuel Akanji will begin the game at left-back ahead of Nathan Ake, perhaps unsurprisingly given the Dutchman has struggled with a hamstring injury in recent weeks.

As for Erik ten Hag, he has opted to start with Fred in midfield. The Brazilian played in the 2-1 win over City at Old Trafford in January and played a starring role alongside Casemiro.

Bruno Fernandes also looks set to start from the right wing, with Christian Eriksen in the no.10 role and Jadon Sancho out left. Marcus Rashford will play centrally given the absence of Anthony Martial through injury.

Alejandro Garnacho has been named on the bench, as has Diogo Dalot, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka trusted at right-back.

Manchester City: Ortega; Walker, Dias, Stones, Akanji; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Silva, Haaland, Grealish.

Substitutes: Ederson, Laporte, Ake, Lewis, Phillips, Palmer, Foden, Mahrez, Alvarez.

Manchester United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Fernandes, Eriksen, Sancho; Rashford.

Substitutes: Butland, Maguire, Dalot, Malacia, McTominay, Elanga, Pellistri, Garnacho, Weghorst.