Premiership - Manchester Derby

Nearly have the season has gone in the Premier League but this year’s title race already seems to be a repeat of last season’s dramatic duel, and the famous Manchester rivals could once again be deadlocked after this Sunday’s derby, assuming that Manchester City can make it a stunning 38 league games unbeaten at home.

These two matches helped deicide the title last season and today should be no different, with United three points clear of City in what already looks to be a two horse race, and while defeat wouldn't be terminal (the men in blue came from eight behind with six games remaining last season to top the table on goal difference) this game is far more crucial for City than United, who would be more than happy to keep the slim advantage they have in hand.

Neither side have been at their best so far this year, but City – despite being unconvincing for long periods of the campaign and preforming even worse than usual in the Champions League despite a difficult group against three league winners – are still unbeaten and will equal their all-time top-flight club record 22-match streak if making it 16 matches unbeaten today, testament to the attitude that Mancini’s men have gained in his time at the helm here.

They’ve sometimes lacked creativity due to the absence of David Silva (namely in October) but that shouldn’t be a problem for them today with both the Spaniard (crucial in making the difference between the sides on both occasions last season) being joined by Samir Nasri and Yaya Toure, they will feel confident of being able to have the advantage in midfield.

There’s also the added bonus that a defence leaking at an alarming rate earlier in the season have conceded just 3 goals in their last 9 league games – with 6 clean sheets during that time for Joe Hart. United’s awesome foursome of Robin Van Persie (10 of United's 37 in the league) Javier Hernandez (one of just two players to score at a rate of more than 1 goal per 100 mins in the League this season) Danny Wellbeck and a revitalised Wayne Rooney (who has created the most goals in the league with 7) are always a giant threat as Chelsea and namely Liverpool have found to their cost, although if City – who boast a stronger defence than both those sides previously mentioned -are able to control the midfield exchanged and starve them of wide ball, then they can put the shackles on their neighbours and edge on a narrow win. There have been just five goals scored in the last six league meetings between City and United at the Etihad Stadium and no more than one in any of those games, so the 1-0 home win makes sense although the 1 goal winning margin is worth a dutch incase the game does happen to become more open; 5 of City’s 9 have come by just one goal.

Advice

1 pt Manchester City to win by one goal (10/3 general)

1 pt 1-0 Manchester City (10/1 Ladbrokes)