Premier League: Blue Moon Will Rise at the Manchester Derby

Manchester City vs Manchester United

One of the biggest fixtures in world football is back on the agenda this weekend when Premier League: Manchester City vs Manchester United takes centre stage in the English top flight.

Neither the Sky Blues nor the Red Devils have made a fast start to the new campaign and, with three points and four they sit in 13^th and ninth places in the early Premier League table, already two victories behind leaders Liverpool. I think for Pep Guardiola, after watching his side win impressively in their opener away to Wolverhampton, the situation is particularly annoying. After winning four consecutive league titles his team flopped last season and the club has invested heavily in an attempt to put that right.

Ruben Amorin, in the Manchester United hot seat, is in a different position but he is under just as much pressure. While the Red Devils are not expected to challenge at the very top, anything other than a top-six position by Christmas could put the manager in a very sticky situation. United picked up a first win of the campaign, in a five-goal thriller at home to Burnley last time out, while City fell to a damaging 2-1 defeat away to Brighton and Hove Albion.

United go into this derby above their neighbours for the first time in five years, but the Manchester City vs Manchester United betting odds say they are about to switch places; so let’s take a closer look at the two clubs, with the game set to kick off at 4-30pm UK time on Sunday. And the last line of defence for each team is dominating the Manchester City vs Manchester United news right now.

Talking Points

Donnarumma signs for City

The Sky Blues picked up the man widely regarded as the best goalkeeper in world football on deadline day, as Italy star Gianluigi Donnarumma signed from Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain for a reported fee of £16m. That figure is a snip for the 26 year old keeper, who burst onto the scene at AC Milan a decade ago and he played 215 games for I Rossoneri before switching to Paris. With 76 international caps he was the Azzurri’s penalty shootout hero in the 2020 European Championship final.

Gianluigi Donnarumma has joined Premier League club Manchester City in a deadline-day transfer — Premier League side Manchester City completed the signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma on the final day of the transfer window

Donnarumma’s arrival might mean the end of James Trafford’s run as the Sky Blues’ number one, after he transferred from Burnley at a fee of £27m. The 22-year-old has made a rocky start, making an error which cost a goal in the club’s defeat to Spurs and so Guardiola has a decision to make this weekend. While Liverpool and Chelsea have raced out of the blocks, albeit with some late wins in the case of the Reds and some VAR help for the Blues, the Sky Blues have not, and Guardiola hopes his team has got its blip out of the way early.

Bayandir to start for United

The Red Devils have had their own problems in defence with both of their senior keepers, Andre Onana and Altay Bayandir making high profile errors. Deadline day signing Senne Lammens flew in from Royal Antwerp in the hope of solving the problem, while Cameroon star Onana went through the exit door in a move to Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super League. But, while Trafford must be in danger of losing his spot as City’s last line of defence, Amorin has assured Bayandir that he will have the gloves when the Red Devils head to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

United will have changes to make up front as Matheus Cunha, who was injured during the win over Burnley, withdrew from the Brazil squad last week and is unlikely to play any part, and Mason Mount, who was also subbed against the Clarets will miss out. Joshua Zirkzee or new signing Benjamin Sesko will step in for Cunha, while Kobbie Mainoo is pushing for a start in midfield.

History

The Red Devils have the lead in the head-to-head Manchester Derbies by 80 victories to 61 and there have been 55 draws. And, while the Sky Blues have held the upper hand in recent seasons, Amorin won his first derby last season as his team launched a dramatic comeback at the Etihad, Amad Diallo scoring a late winner.

Neither team has been in good form over the summer and in early season; City winning three and losing three of the last six, while United have won one, lost one and draw four.