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Man United play Man City in crucial top-of-the-table clash on Sunday
Pep Guardiola's side have the chance to establish an 11-point lead at the top
Paul Pogba spoke of how he hoped City players would suffer injuries to cut gap
But Pogba was then sent off in win at Arsenal and will be suspended
Kevin De Bruyne said he doesn't believe in karma and wants full-strength United

Published: 03:59 EDT, 5 December 2017 | Updated: 05:28 EDT, 5 December 2017

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Kevin De Bruyne wants to play a full-strength Manchester United in this Sunday's top-of-the-table Premier League clash - and doesn't believe Paul Pogba's suspension for the derby is karma.

Pogba said he hoped some of City's 'very important players get injured' so that they slip up and United can eat into the commanding eight-point advantage they have at the top.

But the French midfielder was then sent off in United's 3-1 win at Arsenal on Saturday and will serve a three-match suspension, starting with the game at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Kevin De Bruyne has rubbished the notion Paul Pogba's suspension for Sunday's Manchester derby is 'karma' for comments saying he hoped City players picked up injuries

United's Paul Pogba will miss the derby after being sent off for this stamp on Hector Bellerin

Pogba was shown a straight red card by referee Andre Marriner during Saturday's 3-1 win

When it was put to De Bruyne that Pogba's suspension was karma following his comments, De Bruyne dismissed the notion.

De Bruyne said: 'I don't believe in that s***, I'm a very straightforward guy. If someone believes it is karma, then OK - everyone has their right to their opinion.

'I don't want anyone to get injured. It's a competition, you want to play against the best teams and the best players.'

Pogba said last week: 'Some day I hope they are going to slip and I hope, and I know that's bad to say things like that, but I hope for us that some very important players get injured.'

De Bruyne said he doesn't believe in karma and that he wants to face a full-strength United

City celebrate De Bruyne's opening goal in their win over Southampton last Wednesday

Pep Guardiola's City have the chance to move 11 points clear of United at the top of the table

In response, De Bruyne added: 'I don't care. He can say whatever he wants. We just have to be focused on whatever we're doing.

'He's a massive player - I know him a little bit and he's unbelievable. He took a red card and that's the way it goes. You have injuries and suspensions.'

Sunday's match will be pivotal in deciding who wins the title as City have the chance to establish a surely insurmountable 11-point lead over United with a win at Old Trafford.

One thing in United's favour is that City must travel to the other end of Europe in midweek to take on Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine in their final Champions League group match.

United, by contrast, play at home to CSKA Moscow 24 hours earlier on Tuesday night.