PROSHOTS
| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
AJAX  Vermeer Ligeon, Van Rhijn, Blind, Anita Enoh, Eriksen, Janssen Sulejmani, De Jong, Ebecilio | UTRECHT  Fernandez V.d. Maarel, V.d. Hoorn, Wuytens, Bulthuis Kali, Asare Duplan, Lilipaly, Takagi Gerndt |
Ajax boss Frank de Boer will still have to make do without the services of long-term injury concerns Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and Bruno Silva.
Additionally, defenders Gregory van der Wiel, Andre Ooijer, Toby Alderweireld and Nicolai Boilesen are all unavailable while on the treatment table, as well as winger Derk Boerrigter.
Finally, Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen is suspended following his yellow card against Feyenoord last week.
Utrecht coach Jan Wouters will be without the injured Rob van Dijk, Daan Bovenberg, Jacob Mulenga and Adam Sarota.
Furthermore, striker Leon de Kogel is unlikely to feature due to illness, while Cedric van der Gun lacks match rhythm.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Ajax, last season's league winners, are currently sitting joint-fourth in the Eredivisie table with 34 points from 19 matches
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- Vurnon Anita, Kenneth Vermeer and Christian Eriksen are the only three Ajax players who have appeared in all 19 Eredivisie games so far.
- Promising youngster Stefano Denswil could make his first-team debut on Sunday.
- Utrecht are the league's 15th-placed side at the moment with 18 points from 19 games.
- The visitors have won only one of their 10 away games so far this Eredivisie campaign.
- The away side have not won a single game since their 6-4 victory over Ajax in November 2011.
Games between the two regional rivals are traditionally full of spectacle and, although a repeat of the 10-goal thriller from November 2011 seems impossible, it's likely that there will be plenty of action on Sunday. Ajax are without their entire first-choice defence due to injury and suspension, while Utrecht also miss several first-team regulars at the back. The Amsterdam giants' class in midfield and attack will probably prove to be too much for the Domstedelingen, though.
Editor's Prediction
Ajax 3-2 FC Utrecht 
