Manchester will be the place to be for one of the most hotly anticipated derby games in the Premier League this season. Separated by just a single point the Premier League champions have struggled of late and it could easily be argued that Manchester United are still very much a work in progress for Louis van Gaal.
There are plenty of talking-points ahead of this crucial match not least who is to start at centre-back alongside Phil Jones with Chris Smalling taken ill on International duty and subsequently missing the Villa encounter. Marcos Rojo deputised in his absence but Smalling will be desperate to play and atone for his red card when the two clubs last played.
There is some question over who is to start on the wing with many believing that this could be a real turning point for Di Maria after coming on for Young and assisting Rooney last time out.
United will be looking to start with the same quick tempo that helped them against Spurs, Liverpool and Villa and scoring against a side which features Vincent Kompany would put to rest one of their bogeymen as the last time United beat City with Kompany in the side was 2011 and that bicycle kick from Rooney.
Form Guide:
Manchester United are second only to Arsenal on form having won five of their last six games with only their 2-1 defeat against Swansea spoiling an otherwise immaculate record of late.
Manchester City have had a difficult run with defeats against Crystal Palace, Burnley and Liverpool on either side of wins against Newcastle, Leicester and West Brom. Manchester City have lost their last three away matches and no City manager since Stuart Pearce in 2006 has lost four in a row.
City may relish being the underdogs and have an opportunity to secure a memorable win as perhaps a last hurrah for City’s greatest team before expected changes in the summer. City have beaten United on the last four meetings of the clubs and United have never lost five in a row against anyone.
Fixture: Sunday 12 April 2015 | Old Trafford | Kick-off 16:00
Referee: Mark Clattenburg Assistants: S Beck, J Collin Fourth Official: J Moss
Source: DSG
