Manchester United’s mini revival will be tested by the visit of Manchester City in the Premier League this afternoon.
Erik ten Hag’s men have begun this season in an unconvincing manner. Ahead of this Derby, United have already lost four times in the league.
Interestingly, City have also lost twice – back-to-back defeats to Wolves and Arsenal. Having been on the verge of a major crisis just weeks ago, the Red Devils have recorded three successive – albeit unconvincing – wins. United beat both Brentford and Sheffield United with 2-1 scorelines and got off the bottom of their UEFA Champions League group with a dramatic 1-0 victory against Copenhagen.
They are also only six points behind City in the league table. Pep Guardiola’s men, meanwhile, are looking to build some momentum after recovering from a wobble of their own prior to the international break, when Rodri’s suspension cost them dearly.
Their 2-1 success over Brighton last weekend was a 21st successive home victory – a new record for a Premier League club across all competitions. Guardiola boasts a strong record in this fixture, winning seven of his 14 Premier League games against United. A win for either United or City at Old Trafford will represent a major boost for their campaign, as they seek to keep up with the North London teams who are setting the pace.