THERE’S a mouth-watering start to the Saturday afternoon football schedule as Manchester United host Manchester City.
SunSport are on hand to preview the huge derby clash and provide you, our loyal readers, with our sensational selection of best bets, sign-up offers and exclusive bonuses from our betting partners.
United go into the contest in fourth spot and know a win would take them into third and above Newcastle – who have played a game more.
More importantly, it would take them just a point behind rivals City who sit second.
With eight wins on the bounce in all competitions, Erik ten Hag has the Reds playing some excellent football, guiding them into the Carabao Cup semi finals and back into serious top four contention.
But City make the short trip across the city in wonderful form themselves – in the league at least.
That’s because the Citizens failed to have a shot on target for the first time in 275 GAMES as they were dumped out the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup at Southampton.
Pep Guardiola left many of his big hitters on the bench ahead of Saturday but was forced to make early second half subs after going in 2-0 down at the break.
They’re just five points behind Arsenal now at the top of the table and with the Gunners in their own derby action 24 hours later, City will know this weekend could prove vital in the title race.
The current Paddy Power odds, correct as of January 12.
Man Utd 10/3
Draw 11/4
Man City 3/4
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Man Utd vs Man City
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Manchester United – WWWWW
Man Utd 3 Charlton 0 – Carabao Cup – January 10
Man Utd 3 Everton 1 – FA Cup – January 6
Man Utd 3 Bournemouth 0 – Premier League – January 3
Wolves 0 Man Utd 1 – Premier League – December 31
Man Utd 3 Nottingham Forest 0 – Premier League – December 27
Manchester City – LWWDW
Southampton 2 Man City 0 – Carabao Cup – January 11
Man City 4 Chelsea 0 – FA Cup – January 8
Chelsea 0 Man City 1 – Premier League – January 5
Man City 1 Everton 1 – Premier League – December 31
Leeds 1 Man City 2 – Premier League – December 28
It’s fair to say City have had much of the bragging rights in recent years.
In fact, United have won only one of the past six meetings between the pair in all competitions.
City have banged in 14 goals in that period, including ten in the last two games they’ve faced one another.
Winning three on the bounce until now, City can really claim bragging rights once again by winning on United’s turf – something they’ve done a remarkable five times in the last seven visits.
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Manchester United
Ten Hag is sweating on the fitness of full-back Diogo Dalot, who was substituted in the first half in midweek with a tight hamstring.
The Dutch boss says the move was just ‘precaution’ but it remains to be seen if the Portuguese star can deal with the quick turnaround.
Jadon Sancho is another doubt as he battles his own fitness concerns, with Donny van de Beek also sidelined for a significant period after picking up a knee injury.
Marcus Rashford was rested alongside Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in midweek, though all three were introduced in the second half and will start on Saturday.
Manchester City
No real selection dilemmas for Pep Guardiola after many of those on the brink of first team football flopped in midweek.
Ruben Dias’ injury he brought back from the World Cup will rule him out.
Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Kevin de Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, Ederson and Erling Haaland were all rested at Southampton – a move which backfired hugely.
There will of course be no surprise to see most, if not all, return to the line-up this weekend.
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Spurs vs Arsenal
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Marcus Rashford to score anytime @ 11/4 with Betfair
He’s the main man for United at the minute, especially here at Old Trafford.
Marcus Rashford smashed Wayne Rooney’s record of goals in successive home games with his late brace against Charlton.
Rashford has now notched in eight consecutive Old Trafford appearances, leaving him one short of the long-standing record of nine held by Dennis Viollet.
There’s no bigger game to do it and he’s scored on three occasions against the Citizens in his short career.
In the best form of his life, you wouldn’t put it past him making it nine-in-a-row.
BTTS, each team 4+ corners and each team 20+ booking pts @ 13/2 with Sky Bet
United have improved an incredible amount defensively in recent weeks, so much so they’ve lost just one goal in their last five games.
But City’s firepower up top is frightening and will cause problems on the day.
Both sides will fancy getting join down the wings, which is always a good sign for corners backers.
While a derby game of this magnitude should bring fireworks, and hopefully cards too.
Stuart Attwell is the man in the middle and he’s shown 39 yellows in his 11 Premier League games – with 12 yellows and a red in his last five games.
Plenty will be keen to hear what the two managers think ahead of this one.
In particular with team news and any unknown injury concerns for such a crucial game.
We’ll have the best of what they say later in the week.
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