Check out the preview for the Manchester derby!
Sometimes you have a noisy neighbor. You cannot do anything about that. They will always be noisy. You just have to get on with your life, put your television on and turn it up a bit louder.
Sir Alex Ferguson on Manchester City
It’s first v second tonight in the Premier League, as Manchester United travel to the Etihad to face their local rivals Manchester City. A win for the visitors would offer some hope, but realistically City are well clear of United and any hopes of catching City were extinguished long back. However, there’s still plenty at stake in this one. City will look to extend their 21-match winning streak, while United will put their long unbeaten run away from home on the line again.
Head-to-Head
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is Manchester United who hold the cards in their H2H meetings. However, Manchester City’s recent resurgence has made this a much more evenly contested match-up than in the 1990’s and 2000’s.
Classic Match: Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City, September 2009
Michael Owen scored an injury time winner, sparking delirium at Old Trafford. Man City put up a defiant performance, thrice coming from behind to level the scores. Bellamy’s third equalizer looked to have sealed a point for City, but Owen scored deep deep into stoppage time, leaving Sir Alex Ferguson dancing around the touchline. Meanwhile Mark Hughes was left furiously questioning the amount of time allowed after the initially promised 4 stoppage time minutes were up. The derby was a classic Premier League encounter, keeping fans on the edge of the seat throughout the 90 minutes.
Opta Stats
- Man City have kept a clean sheet in both of their meetings with Man United this season (0-0 in PL, 2-0 in League Cup). The last team to record three shutouts against the Red Devils within a single season was Arsenal in 1998/99.
- Man United have drawn their last three matches goalless in all competitions – they have never drawn four in a row goalless, while the last Premier League side to do so was Spurs back in February 2001.
- Man City haven’t trailed for a single minute in any of their last 19 Premier League games – if they don’t fall behind in this game it will be a new record in the competition’s history (Arsenal also 19 between Dec 1998 – May 1999).
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could become the first manager in Man United’s history to win each of his first three away meetings in all competitions with Man City.
- Sergio Aguero has scored nine goals in 16 Manchester derbies in all competitions. However, eight of those nine goals came in his first eight meetings with the Red Devils, with the Argentine netting just one in his previous eight against them.
Team News
Manchester City have a fully fit squad to choose from, as Nathan Ake is available after a muscular problem.
For Manchester United, David de Gea will again miss the game as he returned to Spain, so Dean Henderson is likely to continue in goal. Elsewhere, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is expecting Anthony Martial and/or Donny Van de Beek to be available again, while Paul Pogba is unlikely to start. Juan Mata, Phil Jones remain long term absentees.
Prediction
All the signs point to a home win. United’s long unbeaten away run is kind of flattering, and their approach this season to the big games has been very passive. Sitting deep and trying to hit on the break is not a strategy that is going to work against this ruthlessly efficient Manchester City team. They rely so much on individual players, and their main man Bruno Fernandes has gone missing lately, more so against the Big Six clubs (one penalty goal in 7 matches).
On the contrary, Manchester City can score goals from anywhere (don’t be too surprised if Ederson scores some day). The likes of Phil Foden, Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling can all rise to the occasion, and if not, then Ruben Dias, John Stones, Joao Cancelo can. Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero. Signs are ominous for the Red Devils.
Scoreline: Manchester City 2-0 Manchester United