Manchester City vs Manchester United

One of the most highly anticipated fixtures in the Premier League calendar takes place at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City and Manchester United go head-to-head in the latest edition of a long-standing city rivalry.

Manchester City rediscovered their scoring touch in midweek FA Cup action, thumping Luton Town 6-2 after netting precisely one goal in their three previous domestic fixtures. Fresh off bagging five goals at Kenilworth Road, Erling Haaland will spearhead Man City’s bid to extend a jaw-dropping 18-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W16, D2). Nothing less will do for the perennial Premier League champions if they’re to maintain their dream of becoming the first club in the competition’s history to win four consecutive titles. Confidence is sky-high around Pep Guardiola’s camp as the Citizens haven’t lost at home since November 2022, racking up 35 successive games at the Etihad without defeat (W30, D5). That indicates Man City could pull off a league double against United following a 3-0 thumping in October’s reverse fixture.

Determined to spoil their city rivals’ historic pursuit, Manchester United will take the field in a buoyant mood after a late 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup, only days after losing 2-1 at home to Fulham. Though it’s a long shot, three points are imperative for Erik ten Hag’s’ side as they languish 11 adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa ahead of the kick-off. Four consecutive league victories preceding that loss to Fulham should keep the morale high among traveling players, even though they’ve lost ten matches at this stage of a top-flight campaign for the first time since 1989/90. But as they enjoy their longest winning away streak in five years, the Red Devils will be out to post their seventh successive triumph on the road.