3 key battles that will decide the Manchester derby

The highly anticipated Manchester derby returns this weekend with the two sides much further apart than when they met for the first time last season.

City find themselves top of the Premier League once again, whereas United have fallen to seventh and find themselves nine points behind their arch enemies.

Last season when United visited the Etihad, like this time, City were the overwhelming favourites before the game. But from 2-0 down, United were able to pull off a thrilling comeback to see them leave the Etihad with all three points.

Can United put in that kind of performance again, or will City blow them away like they have almost every team this season?

Here we look at three key battles that could decide the outcome of the derby:

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#1 Raheem Sterling v Ashley Young

Ashley Young has done a great job of filling in at full-back for Manchester United on both the left and the right side of the back four, with him most likely to line-up on the right, and as captain, on Sunday against Man City.

However, Sunday will be a huge test for Young, as he faces off against his England team-mate Raheem Sterling.

Sterling is having a fine season for City and is continuing where he left off from the last campaign, where he scored 23 goals in all competitions. This season, the winger has already scored seven goals from 14 games in all competitions and is proving to be a frightening prospect for any full-back.

Sterling has received a lot of criticism from fans for his performances for the England team, but there is no doubt when he pulls the City shirt on he is a completely different player, and arguably one of the most important in Pep Guardiola’s system.

If City are to run riot on Sunday against United, Sterling getting the better of Young will play a big part in that. On the other hand, for United to defend well and potentially keep City from scoring goals at the Etihad, Young will have to put in a very good performance to keep his compatriot quiet.

#2 Anthony Martial v Kyle Walker

Martial celebrating his goal against Everton

Another match-up which will play a huge role in the outcome of the Manchester derby is Anthony Martial against Kyle Walker.

Walker has been extremely solid for City since his arrival for a big money fee in the summer of 2017. Guardiola’s system is reliant on the full-backs playing high up the pitch and delivering dangerous crosses, and Walker has done that superbly ever since he set foot on the pitch at the Etihad.

And then there’s Martial, who has had it quite tough at United since he arrived in 2015. He burst onto the scene scoring on his debut and he looked set to light the Premier League up, and he did in his first season at the club. But ever since, he has looked a shadow of the player he once was.

That was until recently. The Frenchman is now firing goals in for United, in what seems like a return to the old Martial, the one that Manchester United signed in the first place. He has five goals in eight Premier League appearances this season and is now full of confidence.

This means Walker has a job on his hands to keep the Frenchman quiet on Sunday, and if Martial is to put in a performance anything like he has done lately, he will certainly make it a difficult afternoon for the English full-back. But, it must be mentioned that Martial’s tracking back abilities are quite limited. If at any time he fails to go with Walker, City could most definitely expose United’s left-hand side.

#3 Ander Herrera v Bernardo Silva

JHerrera got one of his first starts of the season in the Allianz against Germany

Moving away from the flanks, a key battle that will play a big role in Sunday’s match is Ander Herrera up against Bernardo Silva.

Luckily for Bernardo, Kevin De Bruyne has spent the majority of this season on the sidelines and it has given the Portuguese midfielder a chance to shine and secure his place in midfield. And he has done exactly that.

His performances this season have been astonishing, and alongside David Silva the two of them are just mesmerising to watch. Therefore, although De Bruyne has been injured, he hasn’t actually really been missed, which would have been unthought of last season.

But, unfortunately for Bernardo, this weekend he will face off with a specialist at keeping opponents quiet, Herrera.

Herrera seems to start all of United’s so-called ‘big games’, and always fills in with a defensive role in midfield. And nearly always, the Spaniard puts in a an enormous shift and spends practically the whole 90 minutes making sure he’s as close as he can be to the player he’s defending, therefore Silva on Sunday. He has shown he is capable of doing it with Hazard, but will he be able to deal with Bernardo in midfield?

I guess we will just have to wait and see on Sunday.