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Manchester United hosts Manchester City in one of the most anticipated fixtures of the 2017/18 season. Manchester City will head into this fixture on the back of 13 successive Premier League wins. A win at Old Trafford will make it a PL record-equalling 14th win for Pep Guardiola's City and stretch their lead at the top of the table to 11 points.
Jose Mourinho knows that if he lets this opportunity slip away, he may never be able to catch City this season. He will be looking to cut the gap to five points and stop City's unbeaten run. Jose is without suspended Paul Pogba, one of United's best player this season. Nemanja Matic is playing with an injury and Fellaini is set for a return.
On that note, Let's see the 5 factors that will decide the game at Old Trafford.
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#5 Jose Mourinho's starting lineup
Manchester United starting lineup will tell a lot about the tactics of Jose Mourinho. He always believed in 4-2-3-1 but against the top 6 sides this season, Jose deployed a 3-4-1-2 formation.
The 2 man attack did work well in a 3-1 win against the Gunners last week as Antony Martial and Romelu Lukaku stretched Arsenal's defense, allowing Jessing Lingard to capitalize on the gaps in the middle of Arsenal's defense.
The same formation worked well early in the season in a 1-0 win against Spurs and also in a narrow 1-0 defeat against Chelsea. Jesse Lingard has thrived in his no.10 role, and the resurgence of Ashley Young and Victor Lindelof have given Mourinho a stable base at the back.
Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera will form the midfield pivot. This formation has worked out well for Mourinho this season and let's see if it can stop the rampant City.
#4 Manchester City Midfield
No team in Europe has a midfield like Manchester City this season. Real Madrid can come close but Pep's City possesses a devastating midfield.
The quartet of Kevin de Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane, and David Silva have formed a mesmerizing and deadly combination. They dominated every team in Premier League and in Europe with their slick, precise and free-flowing football.
Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva are the most creative players in Premier League this season with 16 assists between them. Sane has often troubled opponents with his sheer pace, while Raheen Sterling was clinical in front of goal.
The Blues have scored in every Premier League and Champions League game this season, and no team in Europe were able to stop Pep's midfield generals.
De Bruyne, Sterling, Sane, and Silva combined PL 17/18 stats:
Goals - 21
Assists - 24
Kep Passes - 125
#3 Paul Pogba's absence
It does not need a footballing genius to tell you that United will dearly miss Paul Pogba this weekend. Manchester United are a better side with the Frenchman, and they play a lot more freely when he is around.
The Red Devils were sitting on top of the Premier League table before Pogba's injury and fell behind city by 8 points during his absence. Even the performances of Romelu Lukaku shows a distinct dip when Pogba is not around. United are completely a different side without Pogba, looking flat and unable to break opponents.
Manchester United Performance with/without Pogba this season:
United with Pogba - 7 wins out of 8 games
United without Pogba - 4 wins out of 7 games
Goals scored when Pogba played - 24 (8 games)
Goals scored when Pogba injured - 11 (7 games)
Paul Poga PL stats this season:
Appearances - 8
Goals - 3
Assists - 5
Key Passes - 15
#2 Manchester United's ability to counter-attack
If there are any positives for United going into the weekend clash against City, one of them will definitely be their ability to counter-attack with pace and power.
United showed it against Arsenal last weekend and are expected to play the same way at Old Trafford on Sunday. Key to United's tactics will be the trio of Antony Martial, Jesse Lingard, and Marcus Rashford. Two of them will definitely start with Lukaku upfront and United will rely on these three to catch City on the counter.
The Blues will dominate the possession and if United can withstand early City pressure, Pep will look to commit more men going forward to break United's defensive wall. This will give an opportunity or two for United to hit them on the break.
There is no shortage of pace with this United side and it will be the key to unlock high pressing Manchester City.
#1 Michael Oliver
If there is one man whom Jose Mourinho did not want to see in charge at Old Trafford on Sunday, it has to be Michael Oliver. Much to his dismay, Michael Oliver has been named referee for the Manchester Derby.
The 32-year-old has officiated this fixture three times in the past and has experienced a fair share of controversy. In 2014, he sent off Chris Smalling at the Etihad for two yellow cards, even before the halftime. Last season, he dismissed Ander Herrera in the FA Cup quarter-final clash against Chelsea in a controversial manner.
Last year, he denied a clear penalty to Marcus Rashford when he was brought down by City's Demichelis. He has awarded some debatable penalties against United in the past, and United fans have clearly expressed their disappointment towards his appointment on Sunday.
