Second-place Manchester United play hosts to leaders Manchester City in the latest episode of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday, in what could prove to be a crucial fixture in the Premier League title race.
The Red Devils come into the clash eight points behind their arch-rivals despite making an impressive start to the season, having won 11 of their 15 top flight matches.
The most recent of those came in a 3-1 success against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last Saturday, where they were perhaps fortunate and had goalkeeper David De Gea to thank for helping them get the three points in a match in which the hosts dominated proceedings.
The success against the Gunners was their fourth in a row in the Premier League, while Jose Mourinho’s men also ensured that they finished top of their Champions League group with a 2-1 win against CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
United can’t really afford to miss the chance to move within five points of City and inflict on them their first defeat of the top flight campaign, even though we are yet to reach Christmas, given their rivals’ dominance.
Pep Guardiola’s side have won 14 and drawn one in the Premier League this term, scoring 46 goals in the process, and they remain on course to lift the famous trophy at the end of the season.
However, the Citizens have looked a little more shaky in recent weeks and as well as needing a last-gasp winner to beat Southampton 2-1 at the Etihad, they came from a goal down to win by the same scoreline against West Ham at home – before a largely second-string side was beaten 2-1 by Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League in midweek.
Back to Sunday though, both clubs certainly know that they have the players that can make the difference at Old Trafford, and they will be looking for those individuals to step up to the plate.
Here are four key on-pitch battles that will decide which way the result goes…
David De Gea vs Sergio Aguero
Given that Gabriel Jesus started against Shakhtar Donetsk and Aguero has started Manchester City’s last three Premier League matches, the Argentine looks set to get the nod to face United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
While he is without a goal in his last two top flight appearances, he has netted nine in 11 this season at a rate of one every 96 minutes, while he also scored a penalty against the Ukrainian outfit in midweek after coming on from the substitutes’ bench.
Guardiola may also look at Aguero’s record of eight goals in 11 appearances against United during his City career and feel that he is the striker that is most likely to get a goal against their arch-rivals.
He will face a tough task to find a way past De Gea though, who put in one of the great Premier League goalkeeping displays in the 3-1 win against Arsenal last weekend.
The Spaniard made 14 saves, and he will be determined to keep any Aguero efforts out of his net on Sunday, too.
Romelu Lukaku vs Vincent Kompany
Lukaku has come under scrutiny from some Manchester United fans in recent weeks because of his performances and goal drought, but his record of 13 goals in 21 matches in all competitions this season prove that he isn’t doing too bad.
The Belgium international has only scored once in his last eight Premier League games, but Jose Mourinho will hope that he will take confidence from the fact that he found the net against CSKA Moscow in midweek and finally produce in a big game against one the Red Devils’ top-six rivals.
Mourinho will surely instruct the 24-year-old to be a nuisance for the City defence on Sunday, especially in the air where they have struggled without the injured John Stones – as we witnessed with Angelo Ogbonna’s goal for West Ham last weekend.
Guardiola will hope that his captain Kompany is fit to start having been left on the substitutes’ bench against the Irons before missing the trip to the Ukraine with a slight niggle, as he will want the dominant defender in his backline for this crucial derby clash.
Ashley Young vs Raheem Sterling
Sterling may have been worried for his Manchester City place following the arrival of Bernardo Silva to an already strong frontline during the summer transfer window, but he has been a regular and is perhaps in the best form of his career right now.
The England international has scored 13 goals and provided a further four assists in 20 appearances in all competitions for the Citizens this term, including pivotal late winners against Huddersfield Town and Southampton in the Premier League, and Feyenoord in the Champions League, in recent weeks.
The man tasked with stopping the 23-year-old will be converted left wing-back Young, who has been one of United’s standout players this term.
The 32-year-old has shown just how useful he can be at both ends of the pitch, and he has two goals and two assists in his last four top flight appearances.
Mourinho will instruct Young to get forward when he can in order to force Sterling to defend, but he will also need to be well aware of his fellow England international’s attacking threat as well.
Marouane Fellaini vs David Silva
If Fellaini returns to the starting XI against City following his return from injury, there is no doubt that he will once again be a key player for them at both ends of the pitch.
The big Belgian may start alongside Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic in the middle of the park if Mourinho’s recent teams are anything to go by, and he will be asked to keep the influential Silva quiet.
As well as being handy from a defensive point of view because of his aerial ability, Mourinho will also be aware of the damage he can do in the opposition penalty area with City struggling in the air from set-pieces and crosses in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, Silva continues to make a huge impact for his team despite the fact that he is getting no younger and playing in a deeper role. As well as finding those key passes for the attacking players in front of him he is still chipping in with important goals too – like the winner against West Ham last Sunday.