Raheem Sterling can break his goal-scoring duck against Manchester United as City look just too good for their derby rivals.
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2pts City win & both teams to score at 13/8
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Manchester City v Manchester United (1630 GMT Sky Sports Main Event)
It’s the big game of the weekend when we’ll see if Jose Mourinho’s renaissance at Manchester United is for real as he tries to punt a dent in Pep Guardiola’s march towards the Premier League title.
Mourinho has seemingly been under pressure all season but if he could engineer a third win in a week things would suddenly be looking a lot rosier in the red half of Manchester.
United are the comeback kings this season, and came from behind to beat both Bournemouth and Juventus this week, and we all know what happened in this fixture last season…
City actually have a poor recent record against United but their flawless displays at home this season sees the Red Devils in the unfamiliar position of being rank 6/1 outsiders.
Although early in the season, an emphatic home victory for City could already spell trouble for the league and a sense of inevitability could surface similar to last year, but Mourinho will be desperate to at least grab a point from the trip to the Etihad.
It’s likely to be attack versus defence for large parts of the contest, but United’s recent comebacks will give them confidence, and make City wary, should it still be close entering the final third of the game.
Betting guide
Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United (Sky Bet odds: 9/1)
United have certainly improved in recent weeks but while their spirit has been commendable they've actually dodged a few bullets along the way - City will be far more ruthless. The hosts will start fast and if they don't kill United off then you couldn't rule out a comeback draw for the visitors but on what we know so far a home win is most likely.
Best bet: City win & both teams to score at 13/8
We're not digging out anything fancy here but with City such big favourites to win then this represents a decent price given the attacking talent United have and the fact they'll keep going until the end so there's enough scope for them to get on the scoresheet.
Goals: Sterling & Aguero both to score at 11/4
Raheem Sterling hasn't scored against Manchester United but having just signed a new contract and with the form he's in it's about time he ended that run - and Aguero is thrown in for the double given his fantastic record at home.
RequestABet: City win, over 2.5 goals, 10+ corners, 50+ booking points, Sterling to score
City will be pressing and they lead the league in corners by a mile, while United are right up there and in derby games you're always wise to back a decent number of bookings as temperatures often flare.
Man City v Man Utd Opta stats
- Manchester City have won just two of their last eight matches against Manchester United in all competitions (D2 L4) since winning four in a row between 2013 and 2014.
- Manchester United, who won 3-2 at the Etihad last season despite being 0-2 down, are looking to win back to back Premier League games at the stadium for just the second time, also doing so with wins in November 2008 and April 2010.
- Two of Man Utd’s three Premier League wins against Man City when they’ve trailed in the match have been away from home and from 0-2 behind – in November 1993 and April 2018.
- Premier League meetings between Manchester City and Manchester United have been won by the away side on 17 occasions – only Aston Villa vs Liverpool (19) and Everton vs Man Utd (18) have been won by the visiting team more.
- There have been just three occasions of a team scoring 24+ goals after six home games in a Premier League season, with Man City responsible for all three (2013-14, 2017-18 and 2018-19).
- Manchester United have conceded 18 goals in their 11 Premier League games this season. It took them 25 games until the 31st January to concede as many in the competition last season.
- Manchester City haven’t lost any of their last 53 Premier League games against sides starting the day outside the top four (W44 D9 L0), since a 0-4 loss at Everton in January 2017.
- Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling is still yet to score against Manchester United in the Premier League, attempting 19 shots in 12 games without success; among players with at least 50 Premier League goals, only Robbie Keane (22) has played more times against the Red Devils without scoring than Sterling.
- Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero has scored 17 goals and assisted a further five in his last 13 Premier League games at the Etihad Stadium.
- Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero scored seven goals in his first seven Premier League games against Man Utd, but has failed to score in his last three against them since.
- Anthony Martial has scored in each of his last four Premier League games for Man Utd – he could become the seventh different player to score in five or more in a row for the club in the competition (Ruud van Nistelrooy x4, Wayne Rooney x2, Eric Cantona, Dwight Yorke, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robin van Persie).
- This will be the 22nd meeting between Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho in all competitions – the Spaniard has won nine and lost five (D7) of the previous 21. He’s only lost more matches against Jurgen Klopp (7) than Mourinho (5) during his managerial career.
- Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has never lost consecutive home league games against a single opponent in his whole managerial career.
