EPL: Manchester City v Manchester United preview

Manchester City v Manchester United preview

Sergio Aguero is a doubt for Manchester City as they look to clinch the Premier League title against Manchester United.

The striker has missed City's last four matches due to a knee injury and Pep Guardiola plans to check on his fitness on Friday afternoon.

If City win at the Etihad they will become the earliest title winners in the history of the Premier League.

However, they come into the encounter on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, and may have one eye on the return leg next Tuesday.

"We are close to being champions," said Guardiola. "So far our season has been so good. It's almost done. It's a bit like Liverpool - it's almost done."

United were eliminated at the last-16 stage of the Champions League, but have otherwise been in good form recently, with five wins from their last six games in all competitions.

"My motivation is to finish second," said United manager Jose Mourinho. "I still have the motivation of finishing top four because mathematically it is not done, so that's the first objective.

"And because we are in the second position for many, many, many, many months, obviously it is our objective to fight for that and for that we need points."

Aside from the doubts over Aguero, City's only other absentee is Benjamin Mendy.

United are only missing back-up goalkeeper Sergio Romero after he was involved in a collision on Argentina duty.

Matej Kovar, 17, was brought into first-team training on the eve of the derby as Kieran O'Hara is set to play in the reserves on Friday.

Versatile Daley Blind is back in contention for United, while Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Ander Herrera have also recently returned to full fitness.