By Augustine Akhilomen
The City of Manchester will literary be on standstill as two of England’s most rival clubs would come at loggerheads. Manchester City host Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in today’s (Saturday) blockbuster encounter.
A victory for the Citizens will crown team manager, Pep Guardiola his first Premier League title since joining the team last summer from Bayern Munich.
However, with Wednesday’s 3-0 Champions League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, City would be desperate to bounce back to winning ways when they face United before hosting Liverpool in the second leg of the Champions League.
United come into the 176th derby knowing that a victory of their own will keep City waiting for at least another week, as well as sparing any potential blushes by denying City the title on their watch.
The Guardiola revolution has arguably changed perceptions of progress and that has undoubtedly cast a more critical and unflinching eye on Mourinho’s rebuilding project at Old Trafford.
Guardiola had suggested that he may field a weakened side against United, although that
might well have changed following the recent defeat at Anfield.
might well have changed following the recent defeat at Anfield.
Across their past six meetings, United have won three, drawn one and lost two against City.
The sides have met 41 times in the Premier League, United winning 20, losing 13 and drawing eight against the Sky Blues.
