Over the past few seasons, the Manchester Derby has been a one-sided affair. Manchester Town have been competing for every trophy they can get their hands on, while Manchester United have been in a relatively desolate zone, looking for the opportunity to face their deafening neighbors as a chance to get on the right path. He has finished at Manchester Town winning four of the five main games in all competitions, during which time he has won four consecutive Premier League titles. But this season, that’s no longer the case.
Check the subscription field to acknowledge that you wish to subscribe.
Thanks for signing up!
Store a visible for your inbox.
I’m sorry!
There was once an error processing your subscription.
United still have enough work to get up to speed, but the arrival of Rubén Amorim has brought a breath of new air to the team that may be able to return to its best level. Meanwhile, Town are on their worst run under Pep Guardiola with just one win from their top 10 games. It’s too early to say the dynasty is coming to an end, but it’s the first year in years where they feel like they’re in the same league as their cross-town competitors.
But that’s what makes rivalries incredible, because, with a win, the Red Devils can deliver a very important game to Town. This loss would be mercilessly greater than the common loss. Without Rodri, Town’s defense has plummeted from the league’s most perfect in allowing less of a sport-related role to firmly mid-desk. They have generally not made up for that with additional goals, leaving Town in a difficult position as they search for tactics to stop this doom spiral.
United’s defense against hidden plays has advanced under Amorim, going from allowing 1.67 xG per game to 1.29 xG per game, as they suited the switch to a back 3. It has also brought out the best in Amad Diallo, who has created slick opportunities as he transitions to a full-back role under Amorim. This will be one of United’s biggest tests, but they gained an amount by going through Arsenal and losing 2-0, which could translate into going through Town.
They won’t be lost within a month, but given the city’s fragile circumstances, if they continue at the end of the day, there won’t be much of a fight to get back. It didn’t seem inevitable that if Town were behind in an attack they would come out ahead, but by drawing Crystal Palace, that was shattered and Guardiola should be given the chance to pick up the pieces.
You may regret extending your warranty for alternate seasons, as even the most successful dynasties don’t max out forever. If Town don’t win this match, it will also be fair to wonder when their subsequent victory will be. Remnants of the past see them take on Aston Villa, Everton and Leicester Town. While Leicester and Everton are at the bottom of the table, Town have struggled against those types of teams.
Rico Lewis may also miss the game against United due to a suspended red card, at which point the defending position’s status may be uncertain and Ederson will no longer start the top two Premier League games. It’s a huge hurricane of things falling on Etihad, making it harder to find a root explanation for where it all went wrong. This is a way of putting as much blame as possible on Rodri’s absence, so it’s starting to feel like the end of Guardiola’s life, even if he remains on the sidelines for a while longer.
A loss to United will only make those whispers louder, and that’s where United can give their competition some distance before giving themselves confidence ahead of facing Tottenham in the EFL Cup in midweek. That is the perfect path for Amorim to the silver medal and also a great way to show that the team is returning to the red side of Manchester.
How you can attend and probabilities
- Generation: Sunday December 15 | Chance: 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time
- Location: Etihad Stadium – Manchester, England
- TV: United States | They are alive today: Fubo TV (Attempt at Sovereignty)
- Odd: City of Manchester -165; Draw +340; Manchester United +380