Stakes are high for Manchester derby
There have been few Manchester derbies with as much on the line as Sunday’s meeting at Old Trafford of the top two teams in the Premier League – the most anticipated clash of the campaign so far.
Pep Guardiola’s City has built an eight-point lead following an unbeaten start to the season that has included 13 straight victories – equaling the record for the longest winning run in a single Premier League campaign.
Not to be completely outdone, however, Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United has equaled a historic club record by remaining unbeaten at Old Trafford for 40 matches over all competitions.
And with former Barcelona boss Guardiola and ex-Real Madrid manager Mourinho having developed a fierce rivalry during their time together in Spain, Sunday’s meeting promises to be one to savor.
The last team to beat United at home was City in September 2016, and a repeat performance would leave the club, once derided as a “noisy neighbor” by former United boss Alex Ferguson, 11 points clear at the summit.
City has been playing some exhilarating soccer this campaign with coach Guardiola’s style of play, which served him so well at his previous clubs, bringing the expected rewards after a disappointing lack of consistency last season.
Yet while United has suffered two defeats on the road – to Huddersfield Town and Chelsea – it too has looked like champions at home.
The 40 games unbeaten have included 29 wins and 11 draws with 85 goals scored and just 17 conceded.
This season’s Premier League record at Old Trafford is played seven, won seven – 20 goals for and just one against.
Mourinho, however, will be without his key French midfielder Paul Pogba, who starts a three-match ban following his red card in Saturday’s crucial 3-1 win at Arsenal.
In other high-profile matches, Tottenham Hotspur hosts Stoke City and Chelsea visits West Ham United on Saturday.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs have won their last three league matches against Stoke by a 4-0 margin, though they have failed to win in their last four league games, dropping to sixth, 18 points behind Manchester City.
Chelsea has suffered two defeats in its last 22 Premier League matches against West Ham, winning both meetings last season by a 2-1 scoreline.
West Ham, currently 19th, is on an eight-game winless run in the league, the club’s worst sequence of results since December 2015. (Reuters)