Manchester United Host Manchester Derby Top Of The Table Clash

Manchester United Host Manchester Derby Top Of The Table Clash
13:12, 09 Dec 2017

Preview: Manchester United v Manchester City; Kick-off: December 10, 16:30; Venue: Old Trafford; Referee: Michael Oliver

There will be a lot more than bragging rights at stake this weekend when Manchester United welcome Manchester City to Old Trafford for one of the biggest Premier League derbies in recent memory.

United are 11 points better off than they were at this stage of the 2016-17 campaign, but despite winning 11 of their 15 Premier League matches this season, the Red Devils trail their neighbours by eight points in the table.

United could have been forgiven for thinking that a total of 35 points would be enough to leave them top entering a hectic fixture list, but City have won 14 and drawn one of their 15 Premier League games to lead the division.

Despite still being relatively early in the season, it is a match that the home side dare not lose as they look to prevent City from opening up an 11-point lead, which would be very difficult to claw back over the coming months.

Since losing 1-0 at Chelsea on November 5, United have won each of their four matches in the Premier League – beating Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Watford and Arsenal. They had to win at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday to stay in touch, and a very impressive performance brought a 3-1 success.

City, on the other hand, have just stumbled a touch in their last three league matches. They did manage to take nine points from nine, but needed late goals against Huddersfield Town, Southampton and West Ham United to continue their incredible winning run, which now stands at 13 in the top flight.

City have been exceptional on their travels this season – winning seven from seven, scoring 18 times in the process. United, however, have won all seven of their Premier League matches at Old Trafford, scoring 20 goals and conceding just once.

United’s 2-1 home win over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday night means that it is now 40 matches since the Red Devils last lost a competitive game at Old Trafford. It is a run that stretches back to September 2016, and of course it was City that recorded a 2-1 victory at the Theatre of Dreams on that particular afternoon.

United did not lose a home league match to City between May 1976 and February 2008, but the Citizens have actually won at Old Trafford in the Premier League on four of their last six visits. That run includes a 6-1 success in October 2011, and the Citizens have only lost once at United in the league since February 2011.

However, if Jose Mourinho’s side can collect a massive three points this weekend, it would lead them extremely nicely into what is a kind run of fixtures. They will not play another genuine top-four rival until a trip to Tottenham Hotspur at the end of January, with Bournemouth, West Bromwich Albion, Leicester City, Burnley and Southampton to come in their next five after this one.

City, on the other hand, will host Tottenham on December 16, and also face a trip to free-scoring Liverpool in the middle of next month. This group of players has not yet tasted a Premier League defeat, and it would be very interesting to see how they dealt with it after having such success in the early months of the campaign.

Shakhtar Donetsk demonstrated on Wednesday night that City can be beaten, although the 2-1 reverse in Ukraine was effectively a dead rubber due to the English club already booking their spot in the last-16 stage of the Champions League. Pep Guardiola made a number of changes for that particular match, and the majority of his big-hitters will return to the XI at Old Trafford.

Mourinho decided to go toe-to-toe with Guardiola in the corresponding league match last season, but it would be a surprise if the Portuguese did not adopt more reserved tactics this time around. United’s counter-attacking shape worked perfectly against Arsenal last Saturday, and there is no question that City will be wary of their neighbours despite their own brilliant form.

Team news

Paul Pogba has been in excellent form for United since returning from a hamstring problem, but the Frenchman will be suspended this weekend after picking up a red card against Arsenal at the Emirates last time out.

Nemanja Matic will return after missing the CSKA match with a muscular problem, however, and Ander Herrera should join the former Chelsea midfielder in the middle of the park.

Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young will operate in the two wing-back positions, while it will be in-form Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial supporting Romelu Lukaku in the final third of the field.

Eric Bailly is still on the sidelines, but Phil Jones is fit, and the England international could come straight back into the team alongside Marcos Rojo and Chris Smalling in a defensive position.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has also been declared fit after missing United’s last two matches, but the Swede is expected to start on the bench. Marouane Fellaini, meanwhile, will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

As for City, David Silva is fit to play despite Guardiola claiming earlier this week that the Spaniard was struggling with a knock that he picked up against West Ham last weekend.

Kevin De Bruyne was among those rested for the Shakhtar match, and the Belgian will therefore be fresh for the visitors on Sunday afternoon.

John Stones’ absence means that Vincent Kompany will partner Nicolas Otamendi at the heart of the defence, leaving Fernandinho as the midfield shield. Further forward, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane are expected to support Sergio Aguero, who only played the final 20 minutes against Shakhtar.

Expected starting lineups

United: De Gea; Jones, Smalling, Rojo; Valencia, Matic, Herrera, Young; Lingard, Lukaku, Martial

City: Ederson; Walker, Otamendi, Kompany, Delph; De Bruyne, Fernandinho, D.Silva; Sterling, Aguero, Sane

Did you know?

Should Mourinho’s side avoid defeat on Sunday, they would set a new club record of 41 straight home games without a loss. It is the finest run of form by a United side since Sir Matt Busby’s team went 40 home matches unbeaten between December 1964 and March 1966.

Prediction

There is simply no downplaying the importance of this weekend’s Manchester derby. It has all the makings of a fascinating affair, although there is a worry that the size of the match could make for a tense and tentative 90 minutes.

Mourinho has won just four of his 19 meetings with Guardiola in all competitions, and Pogba’s absence for the hosts is massive.

In all honesty, despite City’s eight-point lead at the summit, both managers would probably take a point before kickoff. It would not be a surprise to see either pick up what would be a gigantic three points, but we believe that the bitter rivals will play out a low-scoring draw at Old Trafford.

Score prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Manchester City

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