Football: Manchester derby offers United an opportunity to stop City march

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – The rise of Manchester City over the last decade has raised the question of whether the Manchester derby has finally replaced the clash between United and Liverpool as a pre-eminent derby in north-central football English.

Although United fans are not lacking and that, for historical reasons or an idea of ​​competition between cities, continue to say that Liverpool is the ultimate match reluctantly, there is no doubt that the Manchester Derby has taken of scale and gaining relevance.

Sunday's game at the Etihad Stadium will certainly have the advantage of a derby even if, as has been the case for several seasons, City will start in a position of superiority.

Pep Guardiola's team is looking at a United team stuck in seventh place – and that hurts everyone connected with Old Trafford.

Few believers in United really believe that Jose Mourinho's team has a realistic chance of finishing above the Guardiola champions in May, but a Sunday victory would bring back a lost pride.

This was the case in April when Paul Pogba scored two goals as United came back from two goals in the break to win 3-2 and deprive City of the satisfaction of winning the title at home against their neighbors.

City's noisy celebrations in its 2-1 win at Old Trafford last December shocked Mourinho and his players. They showed that, in the tense atmosphere of a derby, they were able to raise their game and make City vibrate.

They will have to do their utmost to stop Guardiola's team who have scored 11 goals in their last two Premier League home games – putting Burny at five and hitting Southampton for six.

City is undefeated in the league with nine wins in 11 games, while United has only won six and lost three, and is already nine points ahead of its neighbors.

Both teams will be in shape after Wednesday's win in the Champions League, when City beat Shakhtar Donetsk 6-0 and United won 2-1 against Juventus out of fire with two goals late in Turin.

Liverpool, after losing to Belgrade Red Star in the Champions League on Tuesday, hopes United can serve them and take points in City.

Juergen Klopp's Fulham team welcome the club low, while Chelsea, second, is two points behind City, but his task is more difficult at home against Everton. Tottenham Hotspur, fourth, will look for his seventh away win this season when he heads to Crystal Palace on Saturday night.