Manchester Derby could hold huge ramifications in the title race

Manchester United host city rivals Manchester City knowing a defeat would see them put Pep Guardiola’s side in pole position for a second Premier League title in a row. The conundrum? A result against Manchester City means that historic rivals Liverpool would be in pole position for their first ever Premier League trophy.

Of course, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer will care very little for the ramifications of the result outside of his own club. Manchester United suffered a heavy, 4-0 defeat to Everton at the weekend in what is being dubbed the worst performance in the post-Ferguson era.

Solksjaer has made his thoughts clear on the squad he currently possesses, warning them that this club will be successful with or without those who do now know what it means to play for the club. He made it abundantly clear that a core of the squad lack the commitment, desire or work ethic to be a Manchester United player. If there was ever a game where players could prove him wrong, it would be against Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola will be keen to dispatch of their city rivals in style. They avoided a potential banana skin when they hosted Tottenham just days after their Champions League exit to the same opponents. Phil Foden scoring the winner and his first goal for Manchester City in the fifth minute was enough to take all three points.

Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva will be lifted by their inclusion in both the Player and Young Player Of The Year nominations, with Sterling amongst the favourites for both awards. But Guardiola will be without Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne after he suffered an injury in that win over Spurs which will see him assessed after the derby, with fears he could be out for the rest of the season with a hamstring problem.

Manchester United will be without Eric Bailly who has just returned to training after a bout of concussion, whilst Phil Jones is a major doubt with a knock. Ander Herrera has a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out of action for this fixture but should be fit for the weekend.

The two sides have contrasting form, with Manchester United losing four of their last five in all competitions, and Manchester City winning four of the last five, with that loss coming in the Champions League at White Hart Lane.

The earlier fixture in the season saw City coast to a 3-1 win at The Etihad, David Silva and Sergio Aguero on the scoresheet before Ilkay Gundogan put the finishing touch on a fantastic team move. But last season Manchester United came back from 2-0 down to beat City 3-2, with Pogba on fine form to drag his side back from two goals down.

If United are to come away with any form of result, Solkjsaer will need his big players, such as Pogba, to put on a performance ten times that we saw at Goodison Park last weekend.

Prediction: Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City

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