Manchester Derby Preview

Manchester United have endured a difficult season under new manager David Moyes (DM), and the visitors intend to continue the misery at Old Trafford.

City come into the match as firm favourites and are currently six points behind Chelsea, so winning could possibly mean more for the Blue half than the Red... if that is even possible. What I'm saying is that United might not have a saying in winning the English Premier League (EPL) but they sure to have a saying in where the EPL trophy could end up, and it starts tonight. United will need no motivation but the reverse fixture in September where they lost 4-1 will be in the front of their minds, no doubt.

Injuries
For United Robin van Persie (out with an knee injury), Antonio Valencia (doubt with eye injury) Nemanja Vidic is suspended. DM chose not to reveal whether any of his injured centre-halves Chris Smalling (hamstring), Jonny Evans (calf) and Rio Ferdinand (back) will be available, at his press conference though.

For City Sergio Aguero (with a hamstring injury), while Matija Nastasic is also unavailable. Vincent Kompany returns after completing a suspension.

Expected starting XI :
De Gea,
Rafael, Carrick, Jones, Evra
Kagawa, Fellaini, Fletcher
Mata, Young,
Rooney

Expected starting XI :
Hart,
Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy,
Milner, Fernandinho, Toure, Nasri,
Silva,
Negredo

Match stats via Opta:
* Wayne Rooney has scored five goals in his last five games

in all competitions against City.
* Manchester City have won four and lost one of the last five

EPL meetings with Manchester United.
* Manchester United have lost as many EPL home games

this season (5) as in the previous three put together.
* Manchester City have scored 3.2 goals per game in the

17 EPL matches that Sergio Aguero has played in this season,

compared to an average of 2.0 without the Argentine.
* Manchester United have lost all four north west derbies

in the EPL this season.
* Manchester City have lost none of their last eight EPL away

games (W6 D2) keeping clean sheets in

three of their last four road trips.
* There have been 49 EPL draws between the two.
* Danny Welbeck has scored in each of his last three EPL starts at Old Trafford.
* Manchester United have taken more points away from home

than any other EPL team this season (30),

but only 21 out of a possible 42 at Old Trafford.
* Yaya Toure has scored with nine of his 11 dead ball shots this season (five penalties, four direct free-kicks).

Jade Christopher Bentley Adams Signing off (@jcba)

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