Tom McGarry’s alternatives for Sunday’s Manchester derby embrace a win for the guests with their star midfielder discovering the online.
Manchester United and Manchester Metropolis will not be having fun with the seasons they had been hoping for, however Sunday’s Manchester derby is the decide of the weekend’s Premier League motion and stays one of many glamour fixtures on the calendar.
United head into the sport sitting within the backside half of the standings they usually might effectively have one eye on the primary leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie with Lyon on Thursday.
Metropolis haven’t any European distractions and are absolutely centered on guaranteeing they return to the Champions League subsequent season, with their hopes of defending their title having lengthy since disappeared.
There was loads of drama when these two sides met on the Etihad Stadium earlier within the season – United scoring two late targets to safe a 2-1 comeback success – and Sunday’s conflict at Previous Trafford might show equally enthralling.
Listed here are our Premier League betting alternatives for the 196th Manchester derby.
Man Utd v Man Metropolis suggestions
Manchester Metropolis to win 11/10
Kevin De Bruyne to attain at any time 15/4
Bruno Fernandes 3+ photographs 2/1
However Builder pays 18/1
Metropolis supply worth for Previous Trafford win
Metropolis’s struggles this season have been effectively documented, however 4 wins of their final six, together with back-to-back successes in opposition to Bournemouth within the FA Cup and Leicester within the league, counsel they’re, to a point, discovering their type.
The identical can’t be mentioned of United, who’re set for his or her lowest-ever Premier League end, with Tuesday’s loss at Nottingham Forest – their thirteenth top-flight defeat of the season – leaving them marooned within the backside half.
Profitable the Europa League is the one potential saving grace for Ruben Amorim’s aspect and though they are going to be eager to safe the derby spoils – and full the league double over Metropolis – Thursday’s conflict with Lyon ought to certainly be the precedence.
Metropolis are already out of Europe and might be decided to spice up their top-four hopes by profitable at Previous Trafford for the second season operating.
The absence of key ahead Erling Haaland won’t assist the Residents’ trigger, however with in-form Omar Marmoush set to fill that void, Metropolis supply loads of worth for the win.
Leg 1: Manchester Metropolis to win 11/10
Departing De Bruyne might steal the present
The large information within the build-up to this recreation was the announcement that Kevin De Bruyne might be leaving Metropolis on the finish of the season after a trophy-laden decade with the membership.
With 280 aim involvements in 413 Metropolis appearances, De Bruyne will go down as a membership legend, with supervisor Pep Guardiola describing him as “one of many biggest midfielders ever to have performed on this nation”.
Though his affect has waned this season, the Belgian stays a key Metropolis participant and he needs to be refreshed for this conflict after being an unused substitute in opposition to Leicester in the course of the week.
With seven aim involvements in opposition to United throughout his Metropolis profession, it could be no shock if De Bruyne marked his ultimate Manchester derby look with a aim.
Leg 2: Kevin De Bruyne to attain 15/4
Fernandes to show United’s driving drive once more
In a disappointing season for United, captain Bruno Fernandes has managed to take care of his ranges, producing 32 aim contributions in all competitions, 18 of which have come within the Premier League.
No United participant has managed extra photographs, on or off beam, within the prime flight this season, and he has fired off a minimal of three efforts in six of his final eight membership appearances.
Fernandes is United’s key participant going ahead and even when they do come up quick on derby day, he ought to nonetheless be closely concerned.
Leg 3: Bruno Fernandes 3+ photographs 2/1