Showdown At Old Trafford As Man United, Man City Battle For Points

The City of Manchester will literally be on standstill as two clubs with rich football rivalries will come at loggerheads in Saturday’s early Premier League kickoff.

Both Manchester clubs will be desperate to win the bragging right and boost their chances of closing the gap on Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table.

Two places and three points separate the bitter rivals in the table at present, with one manager certainly under more pressure than his counterpart this week.

The teams have played 185 matches in all competitions, United winning 77, City 55, and the remaining 53 having been drawn. Amongst the most successful clubs in England, between them they have won 94 honours: a record 66 for Manchester United and 28 for Manchester City.

Still, what makes this fixture so fascinating is the fact that United have performed well against Pep Guardiola’s side of late. In fact, they are unbeaten in four Premier League meetings against City, though that was before Ronaldo’s arrival.

Clearly, the Portuguese has proven prolific as ever since returning to the club, although does require a certain brand of football to thrive. Indeed, the counter-attacking, high-pressing style Solskjaer has opted for during the last few Manchester derbies simply might not be possible with Ronaldo leading the line.

United got the bounce-back they needed at Spurs last weekend, where the reversion to a back three proved a solid foundation for what tuned into an emphatic success.

Unfortunately for Solksjaer, injuries to Victor Lindelof, and to Raphael Varane in midweek, mean that the Reds’ boss faces a difficult choice between going back to the two centre-back scenario that was obliterated by Liverpool or test-drive a new back three that could see Luke Shaw move inside, with Alex Telles coming into the side on the left.

Having lost 2-0 to Crystal Palace last weekend, Pep Guardiola’s side responded in ideal fashion against Club Brugge in the Champions League, easing to a 4-1 win courtesy of goals from Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez.

Having seen their eight-game unbeaten run in the top flight come to a bitter end, third-placed City are now five points adrift of leaders Chelsea after 10 matches, but they have taken 10 points from the last 12 on offer away from home in the Premier League.

Possible Line-Up

Manchester United: De Gea; Bailly, Lindelof, Maguire; Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Fred, Shaw; Fernandes; Ronaldo, Cavani

Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Cancelo; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Jesus, Foden, Grealish