The poster that caused controversy at the start of
last season
It is now arguably the most anticipated game in the Premier
League. Manchester United travel to rich 'noisy neighbours' City in
a clash that could go a long way to showing us who will be
challenging at the top of the table come May, and there will
certainly not be any lack of passion at Eastlands on Wednesday.
Last season, their first league encounter was marred by
incidents involving added time, Gary Neville's badge kissing and
Craig Bellamy's fisticuffs with a pitch-invading fan, but the
return game at Eastlands provided less drama, save for a last-gasp
Paul Scholes winner for the
away side. This year relations between the two clubs have been
strained further, as Wayne Rooney looked set to
leave Old Trafford - raising hopes that he may sign for City -
before performing a U-turn and signing a new five-year contract at
United.
City are certainly better prepared in terms of squad depth than
they have ever been before, while United have suffered from
criticism (not least from some of their own players) that
investment into the side has not been as forthcoming as perhaps it
should have been.
With Mario
Balotelli suspended, City can only count on £100
million worth of their summer arrivals: David Silva, James Milner, Yaya
Toure, Jerome
Boateng and Aleksandar Kolarov. But, amid
accusations of dressing-room unrest, three games were lost on the
bounce before they turned the tide against West Brom at the
weekend.
Boosted by the return of their influential captain Carlos
Tevez, City's main weapon could also prove to be
their biggest distraction. When City snapped up Tevez after he
chose to leave Old Trafford, billboard posters featuring Tevez and
the slogan "Welcome to Manchester" appeared. It was a reference to
the fact that United's ground is located in the Borough of
Trafford, and that City fans view themselves as the only club in
Manchester proper, and Tevez has since become a figure who
represents City's elevation among the English elite (a painful
truth for many in the red half of Manchester to accept).
However, both United and City have failed to hit top form yet
this season. Inconsistency has blighted some of their performances
and, even though United remain unbeaten, a poor game for either
side will ultimately prove crucial in the battle for bragging
rights, and title credentials.
Manchester City player to watch: Carlos
Tevez. The Argentine striker has made no
secret of the fact that he is not the most committed professional
around, reiterating a few times that he could, at any moment, walk
away from the game. He may not have much of a passion for football
these days, but Tevez's work rate on the pitch cannot be questioned
and his strength and skill on the ball give City a new dimension up
front. A bullish striker, he has bagged seven goals in ten starts
so far this season and has returned from a recuperation period in
his homeland after a minor injury. His forays will form the basis
of City's threat in the attacking third and he will certainly be
keen to prove that United should have signed him up on a permanent
deal.
Manchester United player to watch: Nemanja Vidic. Given
the captaincy after Rio Ferdinand and Gary
Neville's recent injury woes, the Serbian defender leads by example
and is a rock at the back for club and country. While United have
suffered from a lack of concentration this season, giving away
leads, Vidic has been largely blameless and his strength and
commitment are vital if his side are to keep a clean sheet. With
him alongside Ferdinand, the United backline looks a lot more solid
and that frees Vidic up to provide an aerial threat at set-pieces
as well.
Key battle: Kolo
Toure v Dimitar
Berbatov. The two have clashed against
each other in another of the Premier League's top derby games -
Arsenal v Tottenham - but now find themselves on opposite sides of
the Manchester divide. Toure has been an important player for City
this season, even if he is now looking a little less impressive
than the player who was so commanding for the Gunners. The defender
has strength and excellent positional skills and will have to track
the movement of Berbatov well, as the Bulgarian striker is a master
at finding space. With the game coming too early for the injured
Wayne Rooney, United will look
to Berbatov for inspiration up front after he was rested in the win
over West Brom.
Trivia: Only 20 players in history have ever
played for both Manchester clubs and the latest, Carlos Tevez, has
scored three goals in four games for City against his former club
since he moved.
Stats: There have been 156 competitive meetings
between the teams. United have won 65 and City 42, the remaining 49
games finishing as draws. The biggest victory was 6-1 to City on
January 23, 1926. Both teams have won 5-0 once (City in 1955,
United in 1994).
Odds: Man City (2.62), Man Utd (2.75) and the
draw (3.25) are on offer with Bet365 but Carlos
Tevez to score two or more goals comes in at 8.50.
Prediction: Derby games are notoriously hard to
predict, but one feels that City may just have enough to cope with
their rivals. A City win could make the title race very interesting
indeed.
