Premiership - Manchester Derby (United v City)

The last week has provided two bright spots in what has been a bleak season for Manchester United but the visit of bitter rivals and title contenders City is likely to bring them right back to reality tonight as Manuel Pellegrini’s men look to keep the title pressure on Chelsea and Liverpool in the race for the title.

For all that David Moyes first season in the job has been a huge disappointed, United’s last week was the best of their season. Against Olympiakos, the verve, purposes intent and pace that of United from years gone were there in abundance for the first time this season with their attack finally moving and creating for the first time this year, and Wayne Rooney’s monster strike at the weekend in what was a routing win against West Ham at the weekend was a sign of Rooney’s better form.

However neither Olympakios or West Ham have anything close to the quality that City bring to Old Trafford and this task bears a much close resemblance to Liverpool’s visit, which bought about one of United’s heaviest defeats of the season as Liverpool’s superior, pace, creativity and control tore United apart with a 3-0 scoreline entirely fair even allowing for two penalties.

Suarez, Sterling and Sturridge toyed with United two weeks ago and even with Sergio Aguero out of action, a front three of Samir Nasri, David Silva and Alvaro Negredo have the same skills and capability as Brendan Rodgers’ men to cause trouble upfront. It is in midfield,, however, where United are truly overmatched. This is much of the same side that tore the Red Devils to shreds in September and in the coming months little seems to have changed. Instrumental to that margin of victory was Fernandinho, while Yaya Toure, having arguably his finest season since his treble winning year at Barcelona, took his league tally to 20 goals this season.

There is a gap of 18 points – with City having played less - between the two sides going into this game and for all that City’s away form looked suspect at the beginning of the season, they have a healthy looking points tally of 24 points from 14 games, three more points than United have at home, under Moyes’s dismal record at Old Trafford which has seen defeats to Newcastle, Everton, Tottenham and Liverpool amongst others so far this season, and while United should approach this game with a degree of confidence after a good week, the outright quality of City makes them the clear pick of the two teams tonight and the 6/5 on offer for them to repeat their victory here last year is well worth taking.

Advice

4 pts Man City (6/5 Bet Victor, Paddy Power)