United, City square up for ‘tight’ derby

Although runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool have finally lost their first league match of the season, not even the staunchest Manchester City fan believes that their side can still win the league.

Going into today’s Manchester derby, the Citizens are more than 20 points behind the Reds, and are looking towards the Champions League and FA Cup to salvage their season.

With presumably enough of a gap between themselves and fifth-placed Manchester United, Pep Guardiola’s team can go into the match without too much pressure – or, at least, they could, were it not for the Manchester derby against their big rivals, City.

The rivalry between the two clubs goes back to 1881, when Manchester City (who were then known as St Mark’s) lost 3-0 at home to Newton Heath LYR (who would change their name to Manchester United).

Since then, the two teams have met 181 times, with United having the edge. They won 75 games, while City won 54. The other 52 matches ended in a draw.

Unlike City, there is plenty at stake for United, as they are chasing a fourth-place finish to ensure a return to the Champions League next season.

They are currently fifth, three points behind Chelsea, but just two points ahead of eighth-placed Sheffield United.

Despite the chance of fifth place being good enough for the Champions League, should Manchester City’s appeal against a two-year ban from European competition be turned down, it is a chance United are not keen to take.

So, they need a result at Old Trafford today.

Like City, they advanced to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup final midweek, beating Derby United 3-0 away from home in a game that will have left coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær with a pleasant team-selection problem.

The Norwegian gave winter loan-signing Odion Ighalo a starting place against the Championship side, and the Nigerian striker repaid the confidence shown in him with two goals.

With Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka returning to the side after missing the game at Derby, Ighalo could find himself back on the substitute bench as Solskjær looks towards Anthony Martial and Bruno Fernandes.

A number of fans questioned the decision to bring former Watford player Ighalo back to England from China, but, with three goals in his two starts for United, he has convinced his coach.

“He is doing what it says on the tin and what we asked for when we signed him,” said Solskjær.

“He is coming in and playing up front, and he’s a different type of striker. He scores, he gets chances every game.

“I am very happy with him. It gives us a chance with Mason [Greenwood] and Anthony to keep them fresh as well.”

The coach may be without captain Harry Maguire, who has not fully recovered from an ankle injury. Solskjær described the chances of him playing as “touch and go”.

“He rolled his ankle and he twisted his ankle, but, hopefully, he will recover quickly.”

United have not been beaten in their past nine matches, and face Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in their next two games, which could be crucial to their hopes of Champions League football next season.

“We have just got to concentrate on ourselves and keep improving and keep getting results. But I know it’s going to be tight,” said Solskjær.

He has warned his players that City are coming to Old Trafford on a high: “They will feel confident. They have hit form, they are playing well. They have just been to the Bernabéu, winning there as well, and won the League Cup final.”

One of the in-form players for the Citizens is Algerian international Riyad Mahrez, who was impressive in City’s 1-0 win at Sheffield on Wednesday in the FA Cup.

“We have United next, and we are looking forward to it. It will be difficult, but it is the derby and it is so special. Our target is to play well and win,” said Mahrez.

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