Manchester City vs Manchester United predictions: Citizens can stop the rot
- Manchester City have won nine of their last 11 Premier League home matches
- Four of Manchester United’s last five away games have featured goals for both teams
- Recommended bet: Manchester City to win and both teams to score
Manchester City’s sticky spell continued with a 2-0 loss away to Juventus on Wednesday and there is a pressing need for a response when Pep Guardiola’s side take on Manchester United this weekend.
The Citizens run the risk of missing out on the Champions League knockout rounds and their slim Premier League title hopes hinge on an imminent upturn which probably needs to start with a victory over United.
Despite their problems City are eight points above mid-table United, who have won only five of 15 league games.
United had hoped for swift improvement under Ruben Amorim but they lost 3-2 at home to Nottingham Forest last Saturday and were far from convincing in Thursday’s 2-1 Europa League triumph away to Viktoria Plzen.
Team news
Rico Lewis serves a one-match ban and Rodri (knee), Oscar Bobb (leg), Nathan Ake (thigh), Manuel Akanji (unspecified injury) and John Stones (foot) are also unavailable for the champions.
However, Phil Foden and Mateo Kovacic were on the bench against Juventus and are pushing for a return to the starting line-up.
The visitors are in a much healthier state, although Luke Shaw (calf) is going through another spell on the sidelines and Jonny Evans (unspecified injury) is a doubt.
The stats
Manchester City have won five of their last six league games against Manchester United.
Both teams have scored in seven of the last eight Manchester derbies.
City have kept only one clean sheet in their last 10 fixtures.
United have lost back-to-back Premier League games for the second time this season.
Four of United’s last five matches have featured at least three goals.
Prediction
Manchester City have lost the winning habit in recent weeks but they usually deliver on derby day and can defeat the Red Devils for a sixth time in seven Premier League meetings.
Injuries and a loss of confidence have contributed to City’s remarkable downturn which has left them with very little room for error in terms of their title defence.
But Kevin De Bruyne and Ruben Dias have recently worked their way back into the team and they could soon be followed by Phil Foden and Mateo Kovavic, who were unused substitutes on Wednesday.
City are gradually getting stronger and they should have too much firepower for United, who appear in need of a major overhaul.
The first four league games of the eagerly-anticipated Ruben Amorim era have delivered just four points and that tally is unlikely to increase this weekend.
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