Wayne Rooney described this fixture as “a massive game of pride” earlier this week and, despite the fact that both sides should soon secure a top-four finish, there is more than bragging rights at stake.
Manchester City will be desperate to recover from their dispiriting 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace last Monday night, which all but ended their title aspirations and put Manuel Pellegrini’s job security in further doubt.
However, there are reasons for the visitors to take heart. They have had the upper-hand in recent meetings and, if they can win at Old Trafford, they will consign their rivals to an unprecedented fifth straight derby defeat.
In the red half of the city, things are a lot rosier. Manchester United will take to the pitch on the back of five consecutive league wins, a charge led by the rejuvenated Ander Herrera, the colossal Marouane Fellaini and a happy, goal-scoring Rooney.
David de Gea will play an important role too, but the ‘keeper, who has been otherwise imperious all season, can be justifiably blamed for the last two goals his side have conceded. Neither goal was of much consequence but could this be the match in which, for the first time this season, he costs his teammates a point or three?
