Premier League: Manchester Derby is a Big Moment for Pep

Manchester City vs Manchester United

Manchester Derbies are always box office stuff but this time the result could be a big deal in the Premier League title race.

Fans of Manchester United will have to live with the fact that if they win this huge clash they will be doing fierce rivals Liverpool a huge favour as the title race heats up. United come into the game on the back of a 0-0 draw at home to Watford while Manchester City beat Championship club Peterborough in the FA Cup.

When thePremier League 2022 updates roll in on Saturday, fans of both City and United will have a keen eye on Anfield where Liverpool host West Ham. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are six points behind the Sky Blues with a game in hand, while a win for fifth-placed West Ham would knock the Red Devils out of the top four.

Then on Sunday afternoon, the city of Manchester will come to its bi-annual standstill as the two neighbours collide.    

Talking Points

Ruthless City are re-focused

Manchester City is never a club you can accuse of taking its eye off the ball. But every now and then, the very best clubs in the world need a reminder that their rivals are hoping and waiting for them to fail.

The Sky Blues’ recent shock defeat to Spurs gave the Premier League 2022 betting odds a little nudge in the direction of Merseyside as Liverpool came in to 3.50, though Pep Guardiola’s team remains heavily odds on at a SBOTOPprice of 1.26.

City had a chance to take their frustration out on Everton last week which they eventually did, winning 1-0 as Phil Foden stole in to score an 82^nd-minute winner.

Before the defeat to Spurs, the Sky Blues won their previous three games, scoring 11 goals and conceding none. That type of form has been business as usual for the champions: a tight defence run by the excellent Ruben Dias and an attack without a Number 9 with multiple and relentless threats.  

Hard to beat United need to sharpen up front 

Since the arrival of Ralf Rangnick at Old Trafford following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United have lost only once in 20 games in all competitions (excluding penalty shootouts), but their fourth place is under severe threat from Arsenal in particular.

And the reason is plain to see. While City lost their ruthless streak against Spurs, the Red Devils haven’t found theirs for some time and have drawn four games in the last six, including matches with Burnley, Southampton and Watford.

The home draw with the Hornets was the most worrying as the Red Devils failed to breach the strugglers’ defence.

Cristiano Ronaldo came the closest by hitting the post and he has been stuck on nine goals for weeks. CR7 is still the joint top scorer, though, alongside countryman Bruno Fernandes. However, he has cut a frustrated figure in recent weeks.     

The Red Devils put in a “backs to the wall” performance to earn a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16 and that shows they can mix it with the best. But Manchester City is a big step up from Los Rojiblancos. 

History

Even though the Red Devils have lived in the shadow of their neighbours over the past decade, they still have the upper hand in the head-to-head meetings in the Premier League era. United have won 30 encounters to City’s 20 and there have been just eight draws.

When the two teams met at Old Trafford in November, the Sky Blues came away with a 2-0 win thanks to an own goal from Eric Bailly and a Bernardo Silva goal as the Portuguese midfielder converted a Joao Cancelo cross.

Last season, United plundered three points at the Etihad by the same scoreline as Bruno Fernandes with a second minute penalty and Luke Shaw interrupted City’s march to the title and gave the Red half of Manchester something to smile about.

In terms of recent form, City have won five of the last six games, losing that one match to Spurs. Meanwhile, the Red Devils are unbeaten, winning two and drawing four.

Rangnick’s side have been tough to beat on the road, going nine away games without a loss.  

Betting Tip

While the Red Devils are hard to beat, they have been held to draws by some modest opponents and it’s difficult to see past a home win in this derby.

The hosts are at a price of 1.38 to win, while Manchester United are available at 6.95 and the draw is 4.45.

If the result goes the way of the Sky Blues, at least United fans can console themselves with the thought their team has passed up the chance to help Liverpool.

 

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