Manchester Derby Predictions: City to beat United at the Etihad

Kevin De Bruyne will be instrumental on Sunday against Manchester United but so will Anthony for the visitors. Who will come out tops? (Photo credit: Sporting)

Manchester City vs Manchester United
Etihad Stadium
2:00pm

It is the baptism of fire for Eric Ten Hag and his resurgent Manchester United side on Sunday at the Etihad with a trip to the champions who now lie four points off the top after Arsenal beat Tottenham in a lunchtime kickoff on Saturday.

Manchester United can be said to be in a good place and a win for them over the champions will further add credence to Ten Hag’s inaugural speech that “eras do come to an end” but will a loss take anything away from his good works so far?

It is meant to be the Erling Haaland derby; the history behind the Norwegian and the Old Trafford outfit is well documented and he will have points to prove on Sunday in his first Manchester Derby, much to the delight of the millions of FPL managers that backed him.

United will sweat on the fitness of premier league’s player of the month Marcus Rashford but can welcome Anthony Martial and Anthony for the derby. It’s a game of huge significance for the Reds, to boost confidence and sustain momentum.

City are clear favorites and it has nothing to do with the ground. City can hurt anyone on any day and with Kevin De Bruyne in the form of his life, you won’t put it past the Cityzens to rain goals on their city neighbors when they come to town.

How will City line up? It will be hard to tell with Pep Guardiola known as the tinkering master. The Spaniard will rotate with European football available in midweek but will still field his most convincing eleven against United.

Manchester United will set up to counter City on the break. The pace of Jadon Sancho and Anthony could hurt the City fullbacks but will they be pegged back by the inverted role of Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker for City?

City won both legs last season emphatically and can maintain the same energy on Sunday but if United can keep it together in the middle and hit City on the break with Christian Eriksen pulling the strings, there might be a joy for the visitors.