The whole of Manchester will be colored in red and blue this weekend as the city gears up for its biggest ever match between its two beloved clubs. While Manchester United have dominated and overshadowed City over the years, the Blue of Manchester have become stronger and stronger over the past few seasons after the huge influx of petro-dollars by their Arabian owners and now sit atop the table ahead of their biggest rivals.
Manchester gears up for its biggest derby
United and City are yet to lose a game this season, thus making Saturday’s match even more exciting. While United started the season with 21 goals in their first five games, they have slipped up since, only managing draws against Stoke and Liverpool. On the other hand City have built up their game and the past two weeks have seen them get crushing results over Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers. Sir Alex Ferguson will completely be aware that a slip-up against their rivals will put them 5 points behind in the table and hence it won’t be a surprise if a completely different Manchester United turns up from the one that turned up at Anfield last week.
Tom Cleverley is expected to continue sitting out after the midfielder picked up a knock earlier this season. Nemanja Vidic, red carded at Romania earlier this week, will take his place in the back four but it will be interesting as to whom Ferguson would pair up alongside the Serbian. Phil Jones has impressed one and all this season while the experience that Ferdinand provides would be vital in such high pressure games. Smalling, who has already scored against City this season, is expected to start at right back ahead of Fabio and Valencia.
Sergio Aguero, City’s top scorer, will take back his place up front after starting from the bench against Villareal, while Balotelli’s purple patch might just land him a starting place ahead of Edin Dzeko. With the news of Tevez’s refusal to play for the club slowly fading away, City are starting to look a very potent force with the squad they have at their disposal. Yaya Toure is expected to be the key player with his central midfield role while Mancini awaits the news of Nasri’s fitness before picking his squad. Mancini is expected to go with his tried and tested back four with Kolarov at left back ahead of Clichy while Lescott and Kompany at the centre.
Despite injury troubles throughout the squad, Ferguson is spoilt for choices when it comes to selecting his strikers. With Rooney automatically picking himself, Ferguson is faced with picking either Welbeck or Hernandez to partner the England striker. Berbatov, despite finishing the league’s top scorer last season, seems to have lost favour with Ferguson and is expected to start on the bench alongside Michael Owen who scored an infamous injury time winner against the Citizens couple of seasons ago.
Manchester City have shown that they are capable of dominating the English champions as they raced away to a 2-0 lead before half time in the FA Community Shield Cup as the Red Devils put up a lackluster performance before a rejuvenated United squad turned up for the second half and overhauled the deficit by scoring 3 goals in the second half.
Sunday’s result may well be decided on which United turns up at Old Trafford.
Probable Lineups:
Manchester United – (4-4-1-1): De Gea, Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Fletcher, Anderson, Young, Rooney, Welbeck
Manchester City – (4-1-3-2): Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Barry, Nasri, Yaya Toure, Silva, Aguero, Balotelli
Tags: Derby, EPL, Manchester City, Manchester derby, Manchester United, Premier League
