Manchester City vs. Manchester United [Premier League]

These two heavyweights will be looking to earn victory to get their season’s up and running after stuttering of late.

After a disappointing draw at CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Champions League, City succumbed to a surprise 2-1 defeat at West Ham United last weekend, which saw them lose ground on leaders Chelsea.

Silva out for three to four weeks

A 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday, coupled with injury to key playmaker David Silva, compounded Manuel Pellegrini’s woes and the Chilean boss knows that defeat against United will cast further doubt over his suitability for City’s title defence.

The blue half of Manchester have a fantastic recent record over their illustrious rivals, with the ‘noisy neighbours’ emerging victorious from five of the last six encounters.


Opta facts

Yaya Toure has scored in three of his last four Premier League appearances against Man Utd.
Man City have won the last three Manchester derbies in the Premier League. They have not won four in a row in the league since December 1970.

Wayne Rooney is the top scorer in Manchester derbies, both overall and in the Premier League – 11 in all comps and eight in the Premier League.

Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero have both scored four goals in five Premier League appearances against United.

United will be buoyed by a much improved performance against table-topping Chelsea last time out, with Robin van Persie getting on the scoresheet to give his own confidence a major boost after some lacklustre displays.

Despite the draw last week, the 20-time top flight champions have made their worst start to a Premier League season, gaining just 13 points from their opening nine games. Last season under David Moyes, they had 14 points.

Defensive frailties have been the catalyst for such a slow start, with injuries blamed for a lack of continuity within the United rearguard.

Redknapp's Manchester derby preview

Despite being only nine games into the Premier League season, David De Gea is the only United player to have appeared in all nine matches so far this season.

And De Gea may have to repeat his heroics from United’s last win over Everton at the beginning of October if his side are to get anything from their short trip to the Etihad, with Louis van Gaal desperate to kick-start United’s season, and fans in need of a welcome boost.

Team news

City have been dealt a huge blow with the news that Silva will miss out on Sunday, and looks set to be out for around three weeks with a knee injury sustained aginst Newcastle.

Fellow midfielder Yaya Toure is expected to feature despite being withdrawn during Wednesday's loss amid concerns about a groin problem.

Former England midfielder Frank Lampard is still expected to be absent with a thigh injury but playmaker Samir Nasri appeared to make a successful return in midweek from groin surgery.

United boss Van Gaal will have to decide whether Wayne Rooney is worthy of a starting place after serving his suspension for his dismissal against West Ham.

The Red Devils' skipper could replace Juan Mata, who has not made the most of his chance in Rooney's absence.

Radamel Falcao and Phil Jones will both be absent on Sunday, but Jonny Evans could make a return after recovering from a ankle injury.


Paul Merson's prediction

If you’d have asked me three weeks ago, I’d have straight away gone for Man City to win easily, but I wouldn’t say that now.

I don’t think you can turn form on and off like a tap and City are bordering on arrogance a bit now. They were strolling around against Newcastle thinking they just had to turn up and they lost that game and they were 2-0 up against CSKA and thought the job was done, only to draw 2-2.

They thoroughly deserved to get beat by West Ham, David Silva is huge for them and he went off injured against Newcastle and so I reckon they will draw with Man United. That would be a good result for Man United – but not for the Premier League title race.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1

Louis van Gaal: Says he has no reason to be jealous of City
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LvG: Biggest derby of my career

Louis van Gaal has called Sunday's Manchester derby the biggest of his career. Wayne Rooney is back for United after his three-match ban but Radamel Falcao is still unavailable.