This is where Pep may slip up

MANCHESTER UNITED are a wounded animal after they were left embarrassed by their performance at Everton. So much so that their manager even felt the need to apologise. When you play for United, there is a responsibility to perform, and the players did not do that on Sunday. There was no hiding place for them at Goodison Park and there will be no hiding place at Old Trafford tonight either. A reaction is required and I’m in no doubt United will produce one of their best performances of the season. They don’t have time to feel sorry for themselves. They need to be brave and switch back on quickly. Let’s not forget they have only lost once at home in the Premier League all season, even if they have put in ropey performances against West Ham and Watford recently. Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, they are unbeaten on their own turf, too. The aura of Old Trafford may not quite be what it once was but Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will be walking into a lion’s den. United will want to make amends for what happened at Everton and I suspect this could be the night City stumble. Liverpool dropped points in their derby at Everton in March and this could be City’s equivalent. We could be about to witness the moment the title race swings firmly in Liverpool’s favour. United will not be thinking about that, though. They aren’t playing to stop City from winning the title. They are playing to stay in with a realistic chance of finishing in the top four. This has to be one of the biggest Manchester derbies in recent memory. United need to win to keep their topfour hopes alive. They also want to restore their reputation, and what better way to do that than by beating your neighbours? City need to win to stay on track for the title. This will be a titanic battle.

SCORE PREDICTION 1-1 DRAW