Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes is a very reliable performer in this market and he looks like an excellent pick-up at 1.25 to commit at least one foul in the Community Shield.

The Portuguese international often struggles to keep a lid on his frustrations and only his compatriot Diogo Dalot (45) committed more total fouls than Fernandes (41) in last season’s Premier League.

Fernandes committed two fouls when United posted a meagre 26% possession figure against City in the FA Cup final and he should have plenty of work without the ball to trudge through again in Saturday’s rematch. In that gamestate, Fernandes’s foul count should climb accordingly.

City’s loss in the FA Cup final to United in May was a trend-bucking outcome, though the Cityzens did set the standard for a number of different metrics at Wembley Stadium, including corners won.

Pep Guardiola’s vanquished troops won seven corners to United’s one in London three months ago having already earned 15 and 12 corners respectively in their Premier League encounters with United earlier in the campaign.

City, who averaged 7.52 corners per 90 over the course of the previous Premier League season, will expect to enjoy a sizeable territorial advantage over United again on Saturday and they offer excellent value at 1.44 to win over 5.5 corners at their expense.

Marcus Rashford had a campaign to forget in 2023/24 as he struggled to hit top gear, though he has looked sharp in pre-season and was a real handful for the Liverpool defence in last weekend’s friendly fixture between the clubs in the USA, hitting the target with one of his three shots against the Reds.

Having gone through a comprehensive summer readying schedule, Rashford could have the edge in terms of match-sharpness over several City defenders that have only just returned to training this week.

The 26-year-old also tends to rise to the occasion in Manchester derbies, as evidenced by his six-goal haul from contests with City and having lodged four shots on target in his last four appearances against the Cityzens, Rashford is an attractive prospect at 2.0 to test Stefan Ortega at least once on Saturday.

Cameroonian stopper Andre Onana was overworked between the sticks during his maiden Premier League campaign for United and the 27-year-old finished the season with more saves (146) than any other keeper in the division.

Onana was just as busy when exposed by United’s lacklustre defending in last season’s Manchester derbies and made five and seven saves respectively in his club’s 3-1 and 3-0 defeats to their rivals in the top tier in March and October.

United were more robust defensively in the FA Cup final, though Onana was still required to make three saves and his reflexes are likely to be tested again on Saturday, and he is an easy inclusion at 1.25 to make three or more stops again.

The Manchester derby has a history of producing goalmouth action and BTTS has landed in six of the last seven iterations of the heavyweight fixture, while five of the six meetings between the clubs since Erik ten Hag’s arrival in 2022 have also featured goals at both ends.

In addition, both City and United had similar issues at the back during their pre-season schedule, due in part to the absence of key first-team defenders in both camps.

Big names on both sides returned to training this week, however, ring rust could be a factor if they are thrust straight into the fray at Wembley and the attackers could profit as a consequence. Backing both teams to score for the seventh derby in eight editions at 1.50 provides excellent value here.

With United still plagued by fitness issues at centre half, Erling Haaland’s chances of netting his seventh Manchester derby goal are heightened on Saturday and the Norwegian goal-getter is priced at a generous 1.73 to find his range at Wembley Stadium.

Haaland was uncharacteristically underserviced in the FA Cup final, though he did rattle the underside of the crossbar with one of his two attempts, and with an improved supply, he should have better than half chances to convert this time around.

Haaland looked razor-sharp when gobbling up his three goals against Chelsea in Ohio and if he is in a similar mood this weekend, he could punish United.

A natural right footer, Diogo Dalot moved across to fill in at left back for United against City in May’s cup final and though he performed well to make three tackles and complete seven clearances, the 24-year-old fouled twice during a typically aggressive display.

Indeed, Dalot – who fouled at least once in 72.2% and at least twice in 30.5% of his Premier League appearances last season – always seems to find himself on the referee’s radar and he committed two fouls again against City when he faced the Cityzens in England’s top tier in March.

It remains to be seen whether he will be deployed on the right or left on Saturday, though there are tricky opponents to mark on each flank and Dalot represents a head-turning option at 2.10 in the 2+ fouls range again.

Norwegian youngster Oscar Bobb was an ever-present for City in pre-season and the promising attacker staked a real claim for a starting berth on Saturday with some sparkling displays down the right for the Premier League champions.

Bobb finished his summer programme with five goal contributions (2G, 3A) and his impact against Chelsea in Ohio was particularly eye-catching. Bobb had the beating of his more experienced marker, Malo Gusto, on that occasion and managed to clock two shots on target before he was withdrawn after 70 minutes.

His removal from the action with 20 minutes left to play against the Blues suggests a starting role in the Community Shield could be in the offing for Bobb and in that scenario, the in-form winger would be nicely priced at 1.62 in the 1+ shots on target bracket.