This midweek we have a CRUCIAL fixture as Manchester City look to move on top of the league again as they travel to Old Trafford to face their nemesis Manchester United in the Manchester derby.
This game is massive for both sides. The hosts are still within reach of getting top 4 as they’re just 3 points off Chelsea who are 4th with a game in hand on them and 2 pts off Arsenal who are 5th, meanwhile Man City are currently 2 pts off Liverpool with a game in hand which is this game so with a win City could be on top with the same games played, however if they drop points their title aspirations could have a massive dent.
Man Utd have been in some horrendous form entering this game having lost 6 of their last 8 games with 2 unconvincing wins against West Ham and Watford in this stretch. United are coming off a couple of terrible defeats against Barcelona 3-0 and most recently they lost 4-0 to Everton which was their worst defeat in 3 years. United are playing probably their worst football of the season right now and that includes their opening half of the season under Mourinho which is very worrying coming into this game.
Meanwhile Manchester City are playing great in fact they’ve won 24 of their total 26 games in the year 2019 which is absolutely ridiculous. City have bounced back well after being eliminated by Spurs in the Champions League by beating Spurs in the league 1-0 at the weekend to keep the title race in their hands. In the Premier League, City’s record in 2019 is 13W 0D 1L and they’ve scored 33 goals while conceding just 7 playing great football on both sides. On current form, it’s hard to see City not winning this game considering how bad their rivals are playing.
Man Utd have been a very tough side to beat at Old Trafford however. Only one defeat in 16 league games here (10W 5D) which was in their 2nd game against Spurs meaning they’ve gone unbeaten in 14 league games at Old Trafford which is quite an impressive record and something United need to hold on to entering this game to use as a confidence boost. United have won each of their last 3 games at home in the Premier League though it’s been relatively unconvincing as they were put to test by all 3 teams in Southampton, Watford and West Ham in this run however they have done the job and that’s all that matters here.
Against the big 6 Man Utd have not had success winning games at home this season. They drew 2-2 with Arsenal, 0-0 with Liverpool and lost 0-3 to Spurs so despite the solid home record, they have only picked up 2 pts from 9 against the top sides with City and Chelsea still to come here.
Man City have been a great away side to no surprise this season winning 11 of their 16 league games on their travels drawing just 2 and losing 3. In 2019, across all competitions Man City have won 9 of their 11 away games only tasting 2 defeats. They’re not quite as dominant as they are at the Etihad, but there isn’t much drop off in play for them when they play away which makes them such a great side.
Man City have been pretty good in big away games in the league this season. They beat Arsenal 0-2, Spurs 0-1, drew 0-0 with Liverpool and tasted the lone defeat 2-0 to Chelsea in the league away picking up 7 pts from 12 available and conceded just 2 goals in 4 games keeping 3 clean sheets which definitely is a pretty solid record and they’ve shown they can win a big away game.
The player to watch for Man Utd has to be Paul Pogba. Despite him being out of form just like everyone else, Pogba has been United’s best overall attacking player all season with 13G 9A in the league and if anyone can cause the most problems for City it’s Pogba if he’s on his best game, plus he’s their regular penalty kick taker so chances of him scoring are always decent.
Sergio Aguero is the man to watch for Man City. He’s the tied top scorer in the league with 19 goals and also has 8 assists which is a total of 27 goal contributions for City this season which edges Raheem Sterling’s 26 goal contributions (17G 9A) by one. Aguero has been in very good form too scoring 5 and assisting 4 goals in his last 7 appearances for City across all competitions.
Man City have won the reverse fixture at the Etihad in a relatively dominant fashion as they took down Man Utd 3-1 who were still managed by Mourinho then.
Man City have had a lot of success at Old Trafford in recent years winning in 5 of their last 8 visits here (1D 2L). City have most recently won here 1-2 last season. City have won in each of their last 2 visits here in the Premier League so it has been a place where Man City have had a lot of success playing against their fierce rivals.
Manchester City are MASSIVE favourites in this game offered to win at just 1.48 with Man Utd being a long shot underdog at 7.15 with Draw tipped at 4.80. It’s pretty clear that the recent contrast in form with how awful Man Utd have looked while City are clicking on all cylinders has Man City as such favourites despite United being the home team. However considering this is a derby game and Man Utd still got something to play for, expect the hosts to turn it up a notch so don’t expect it to be an easy game for the visitors. Man City will have to work hard if they want the 3 points to go on top of the league. Odds are based on Unibet.
Team News
Manchester United: Phil Jones is out for the hosts while Luke Shaw is back from suspension and Ander Herrera could return after missing multiple weeks with an injury himself. Eric Bailly and Antonio Valencia are questionable.
Manchester City: Kevin de Bruyne is OUT again for Man City after picking up another injury this season. Claudio Bravo continues to be out as well as he’s not featured at all this season.
Betting Stats
Man Utd have covered 68.8% of their total goal overs at home in the league this season (11-2-3). 2nd best percentage in the league.
However, Man Utd have only covered 31.2% of their total 1st half goal overs at home in the league this season (5-4-7) which is 4th worst in the BPL. Better 2nd half side goals wise at home.
Man Utd average 1.63 bookings per game at home in the league this season (26 bookings in 16 games).
Paul Pogba is Man Utd’s top scorer at home in the league with 10 goals at Old Trafford in the BPL this season.
Man Utd have only covered 31.2% of their Handicaps at home in the league this season which is 3rd worst in the BPL (5-1-10).
Man Utd have covered 56.2% of their 1st Half Handicaps at home in the league this season which is the BEST in the league (9-1-6). Love a quick start, but tend to drift off later.
Man City have only covered 25% of their total goal overs away from home in the league this season (4-2-10) which is the worst in the league.
Man City have covered 31.2% of their total 1st half goal overs away from home in the league this season (5-11).
Man City average 1.63 bookings per game away from home in the league this season (26 bookings in 16 games).
Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez are City’s top scorers away from home in the league with 5 away goals each in the BPL this season.
Man City have covered 50% of their Handicaps away from home in the league this season (8-1-7).
Man City have covered 68.8% of their 1st half Handicaps away from home in the league this season which is 3rd best in the BPL (11-1-4).
KICK OFF – 24th April 2019 – 8pm UK Time
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