The hosts, who recorded a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in North London last weekend, are currently fifth in the table, three points behind third-placed Man City on the same number of games (10).

Both teams will enter the match off the back of positive European results, with Man United staying top of their Champions League group courtesy of a 2-2 draw with Atalanta BC on Tuesday.

Man City, meanwhile, put themselves in a strong position to reach the last-16 stage of the competition courtesy of a 4-1 victory over Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

The two managers are now preparing for the Manchester derby, and here Sports Mole takes a look at how Solskjaer has fared against Guardiola in the past.

Pep Guardiola and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ahead of the EFL Cup game between Manchester United and Manchester City on January 7, 2020 © Reuters

Solskjaer has won four, drawn one and lost three of his eight previous meetings with Guardiola in all competitions, and he actually has the best win ratio of any head coach to take on the Spaniard at least five times.

The Norwegian's first encounter with Guardiola came in April 2019, and it proved to be an unhappy start for Solskjaer, who saw his Man United side suffer a 2-0 home defeat.

The treble winner then went on to taste victory in three of his next four games against Guardiola, including a 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League towards the end of 2019.

Solskjaer's Man United lost to Man City in the semi-finals of the 2019-20 League Cup, but the Red Devils did win the away leg 1-0, which made it two victories in four matches for the Norwegian against Guardiola.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reacts as Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on on January 29, 2020 © Reuters

Solskjaer's only home success over Guardiola came during the 2019-20 Premier League season, with Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win for the 20-time English champions.

The first and only draw between the two managers came at Old Trafford in December 2020, with the two teams playing out a 0-0 in the behind-closed-doors fixture.

Man City then recorded a 2-0 win over Man United in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup in January of this year, but Solskjaer secured his fourth victory over Guardiola in the last meeting between the two head coaches.

Indeed, Bruno Fernandes made the breakthrough from the penalty spot in the second minute of the Premier League fixture at the Etihad Stadium before Luke Shaw added a second early in the second half, with Man United running out 2-0 winners in March.

Solskjaer vs. Guardiola head-to-head record:

April 24, 2019 - Man United 0-2 Man City (Premier League)
December 7, 2019 - Man City 1-2 Man United (Premier League)
January 7, 2020 - Man United 1-3 Man City (League Cup)
January 29, 2020 - Man City 0-1 Man United (League Cup)
March 8, 2020 - Man United 2-0 Man City (Premier League)
December 12, 2020 - Man United 0-0 Man City (Premier League)
January 6, 2021 - Man United 0-2 Man City (League Cup)
March 7, 2021 - Man City 0-2 Man United (Premier League)