One of the most anticipated games of the Premier League calendar, it was figured this game would play a much more pivotal role in the title race.
As it is, neither Pep Guardiola's Manchester City or Jose Mourinho's Manchester United stands any realistic chance of challenging Chelsea for the title. Instead, this match is now crucial in the five-way race for the final couple of Champions League spots.
Liverpool, City, United, Everton and Arsenal will all believe they have a claim to a place in Europe's Premier competition, with the three that miss out having to settle for the less-prestigious (more-shit) Europa League.
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Unfortunately for the Red side of Manchester, United have been hit by somewhat of an injury crisis.
Top scorer and talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been ruled out with an ACL injury and Juan Mata's prolonged absence continues, whilst £89 million man Paul Pogba is also set to miss the game through injury. In defence, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo are all out, meaning Daley Blind and Eric Bailly are their only fit centre-backs.
In slightly better news for them, both Antonio Valencia and Ander Herrera are set to return.
For Pep Guardiola's side, it looks like Ilkay Gundogan is the only definite absentee. Sergio Aguero and David Silva are both minor doubts after limping off in the FA Cup semi-final, while it remains to be seen whether Gabriel Jesus, Bacary Sagna and John Stones will be fit enough for inclusion in the starting XI.
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The Citizens were boosted by the long-awaited return of captain Vincent Kompany against Southampton and will have been glad to see him play the full 120 minutes against Arsenal on Sunday with no problems.
When these sides met in the league earlier in the season, Manchester City ran out 2-1 winners in an electric game at Old Trafford. Early goals from Kelechi Iheanacho and Kevin De Bruyne were enough to give City the win, despite Zlatan Ibrahimovic capitalising on a Claudio Bravo mistake to give United hope of taking something from the game.
Just over a month later, the sides met again at Old Trafford in the League Cup. United were 1-0 victors, as they were at the Etihad last season, against a heavily-depleted City side. Interestingly enough, three of their last five meetings at Eastlands have finished 1-0.
It's difficult to know what to expect from this one though, with so little time left in the season and so much riding on both teams getting a result here. I can imagine the game being a little cagey, especially in the first half, so I like HT Result: Draw at 5/4. City's home games against Everton, Tottenham and Liverpool were all level at the break, whilst over a third of United's games this season have been too.
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Interestingly, 30 of the 42 goals in City's home games have come after half-time, whilst 58% of the goals in United's away games have also come in the second half. For that reason I'm taking Over 1.5 Second Half Goals at 5/4 and the very tasty 13/5 about Both Teams to Score in the Second Half.
Check out ODDSbible's Bet of the Day with BetVictor.
