Premier League

Manchester Derby Preview

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Manchester City have proven to be unstoppable in the Premier League so far this season as they look to defend their title but a stern test awaits this weekend against arch-rivals Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho‘s side are still way off the pace of the Citizens, as well as their title-rivals Liverpool and Chelsea, but the Red Devils have bounced back from a difficult run of results that piled the pressure on their Portuguese boss.

A month ago, speculation from Mr BigWin suggested that Mourinho could be axed regardless of the result against Newcastle and things looked bleak when they fell behind against the Magpies – but the fightback in that game has sparked a revival.

Victory against Newcastle was followed by a draw with Chelsea, a win over Everton and, most recently, three points against Bournemouth. For all their criticisms, a win in the derby would spark life back into United’s top-four hunt.

However, City will certainly be confident hosting their rivals at the Etihad Stadium after smashing six past Southampton on Sunday. From a maximum of 33 points this season, Pep Guardiola‘s side have picked up 29.

The comparisons with Manchester United show a lot of differences. Firstly, City have scored a league high 33 goals so far this season, averaging three a game, compared to United’s 19 – which is less than Bournemouth.

Defensively, the contrast is massive. City have conceded just four goals this season whereas United have conceded 18 – the worst tally in the Premier League’s top 14 sides and being even more than struggling Newcastle.

A leaky United defence up against a City attack that is firing on all cylinders is certainly something for Mourinho to worry about and the fact that the game comes just days after a crucial win in the Champions League against Juventus, where Mourinho’s side face a tight battle with Valencia to advance to the latter stages of the competition.

City, who smashed Shakhtar at home, will have less of a European hangover and this heaps further woes upon a Manchester United side who have found consistency this season hard to come by.

While the aforementioned improvements have been shown by the Red Devils, defeat at the Etihad Stadium at the weekend could derail the rival and may leave Mourinho’s men seven points adrift of the top-four if results elsewhere also go against them.

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