Man City V Man Utd Barclays Premier League Match 22 -September 2013. Manchester City playmaker David Silva could return for the Manchester derby after recovering from a thigh injury.
Micah Richards has overcome a hamstring problem but Gael Clichy is not expected to feature following a similar injury.Watch Man City V Man Utd Live, Watch Man City V Man Utd Live Stream, Watch Man City V Man Utd Free Live Stream, Watch Man City V Man Utd Online, Watch Man City V Man Utd Online Free, Man City V Man Utd Live, Man City V Man Utd live stream Online.
Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck remains doubtful with a knee injury, and Phil Jones (ankle) and Rafael (hamstring) are still sidelined.
Shinji Kagawa will hope to retain his place, though Ashley Young and Nani are both in contention.
MATCH PREVIEW
Here's to the first real blockbuster of the season! We've had a couple of pretenders to the title which haven't really delivered so far, but I'm confident that this one will live up to expectations.
"Our bus driver was on their bench"
Ron Atkinson
Ron Atkinson and John Gidman remember the last Manchester derby without Sir Alex Ferguson
Both teams may have made an unspectacular start in the Premier League, but their performances and goals scored in the Champions League on Tuesday will ensure that they come into the derby full of attacking confidence.
City could have scored a bucket-load at Plzen, with the pick of the three they did get coming from Yaya Toure. Although still nominally playing in a defensive midfield role, the giant Ivorian is again playing with a freedom that we perhaps didn't see as much last season.
He's certainly knocking the ball around nicely, with his 347 successful passes comfortably the highest number in the Premier League so far, and 65 more than United's best passer Michael Carrick.
After shining against Bayer Leverkusen with his 199th & 200th United goals, much will again be expected of Wayne Rooney in a fixture he always seems to relish.
He's scored four goals in his last three away to City, including two in last December's thrilling 3-2 United win, and only needs one more to become the record scorer in all Manchester derbies. On 10 goals, he's level with City's Joe Hayes and Francis Lee, with seven in the Premier League equalling Eric Cantona's total.
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
Image of Mark Lawrenson Mark Lawrenson Football analyst
"What makes this derby interesting is that, if one of these team loses, they have only got seven points from a possible 15 and will have lost two of their first five games. That is part of the reason I think this is a nailed-on draw."
Read Lawro's full prediction and score
With Brian Kidd for City and Phil Neville and Ryan Giggs for United, there's plenty of derby know-how in the coaching teams - yet this is the first time since 1947 that BOTH City's and United's bosses are new to this particular rivalry.
On that occasion, Jock Thomson's blues and Matt Busby's* reds drew 0-0. I'd be amazed if this one finished goalless.
*New as a manager, but he had played in a derby for City - a 3-1 away win in February 1931.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Last season, City and United beat each other away from home in the Premier League - United won 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium in December, City won 2-1 at Old Trafford in April.
Manchester United have won six of the last 10 Premier League meetings between the two clubs, with City winning three.
United have won nine of their 16 Premier League trips to City, who have five victories. There have only been two draws.
Manchester City
Manchester City have scored in each of their last 52 Premier League home games. The all-time record for the competition is 66, set by Manchester United.
In their last Premier League match, against Stoke, City failed to score for the first time this season. They also had fewer attempts on goal than their opponents (Stoke 11, City 10).
City have failed to win in their opening two Premier League away matches for the third time in the last four seasons.
Since the start of the 2012-13 season, no side has kept more clean sheets in the Premier League than Manchester City (21).
Manchester United
United's only win in their last five Premier League away games came on the opening weekend against Swansea (W1, D3, L1).
Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie have scored a combined 28 goals in 23 Premier League starts together (van Persie 15 and Rooney 13).
Rooney has now either scored or assisted 40 goals in his last 44 Premier League games.
Van Persie has scored 13 of the 17 penalties he has taken in the Premier League. He is yet to finish on the losing side when he has scored for United in the Premier League.
Since his Premier League debut in August 2006, Ashley Young has won a joint league-high 12 penalties. Former Villa colleague Gabriel Agbonlahor has also won 12.
Against Crystal Palace, debutant Marouane Fellaini (46) made more passes than Anderson (39) despite only replacing him after the hour mark.