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It is a match of historic significance as Manchester City host Manchester United at Etihad Stadium tonight. People around the world will witness another mammoth game of football. The Manchester Derby is not what it was a decade ago- tables have turned and the importance of this epic tie has only increased over the years.
Manchester United will fancy their chances after a surprise victory against Juventus in the UEFA Champions League at Turin. They have also managed to come back from difficult situations as evident from their recent performances. They are also unbeaten at City's own den for the last three games and was the only team to defeat City at Etihad last season.
Although it is not possible to mount a come back in every match, Pep Guardiola will be extra cautious. His team has only conceded four goals and scored thirty-three times in the league and he will be willing to maintain that good record throughout the season.
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A tie like this one always provides entertainment and glory for the fans and players respectively. A good performance can earn respect among fans and the manager while a bad result can harm one's legacy. Let us take a quick glance at five players who can make a difference.
#1. Sergio Aguero
The Argentine needs no introduction. Sergio Aguero is already a City legend and scored whenever his team needed him. His efficiency and an eye for goal will be the key for Manchester City in front of goal today.
Sergio Aguero has scored 17 times and provided 5 assists in his last 13 games at his favourite Etihad stadium in the English Premier League. He will desperate to find himself on the scoresheet once again and break his derby duck.
Despite not being able to find the net in the last three games against Manchester United, Sergio Aguero will lead the Manchester City attack with his vast experience in big games. He has been clinical in front of goal this season so far. He will hope to score in the biggest stage and add to his tally versus Manchester United.
#2. Anthony Martial
Anthony Martial can become the seventh different player to score in five consecutive Premier League games for the club which will make his name to a list comprising of Eric Cantona, Dwight Yorke, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robin van Persie.
Despite his temporary arguments between him and Jose Mourinho, Martial has managed to link up with United forwards like Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard. His dynamic play in the flanks and cohesiveness upfront will bode well for Manchester United which makes him dangerous for City defenders.
His recent good performances have coincided with Manchester United's good fortune in these last few games. In the past month or so, United have mounted a comeback and managed to get a positive result out of nothing thanks to the exploits of Anthony Martial.
It is neither a surprise nor a coincidence and there is no doubt that Martial will play a huge role if United manages to get a positive result from this match.
#3. Aymeric Laporte
Proving himself to be a brick wall in defence, the ex-Athletic Bilbao man will spearhead the Manchester City defence versus United tonight. There is little doubt on the fact that he will have a huge responsibility on his young shoulders as he will be the key to stopping the likes of Martial and Sanchez.
What is truly surprising is that Laporte is only behind Jorginho when it comes to pass completion in the English Premier League. Even world-class midfielders like Paul Pogba and Fernandinho are behind him. This fact makes it easier to understand why Laporte has played every minute for City this season and in Pep Guardiola's good books.
Along with superior defensive abilities, Laporte has a calm head on his shoulders unlike some of the best defenders in the world. He has 1.5 interceptions and 2.9 clearances per game but his composure on the pitch will provide much-needed calmness to City's backline in a high voltage clash like this one.
#4. Paul Pogba
There were some concerning reports last night stating that Paul Pogba had suffered an injury scare ahead of the Manchester derby. The Times reported that the French World Cup winner suffered a minor injury in the 2-1 win over Juventus on Wednesday. It is not sure whether he will start the game or not but he will definitely make his presence felt if he comes on the pitch.
Last time when City hosted United, two out of three United's goals came from Paul Pogba. Even without the goals, Paul Pogba had a huge impact which helped Manchester United inflict a crushing defeat on Manchester City- their only home loss last season.
There is little doubt about the capabilities of this world class box-to-box midfielder. Football fanatics know that he can change the tie in a blink of an eye. But what's more important in Jose Mourinho's set up is his superior ball shielding abilities which frustrates his opponents more and more.
It will be interesting to see whether he is fully fit or not but make no mistake, Paul Pogba's role in this current Manchester United team cannot be surpassed by any other player in the squad.
#5. Raheem Sterling
Recent reports suggest Pep Guardiola himself intervened to get Raheem Sterling a new deal with Manchester City. Going by his performances in the World Cup and this season, it is not a surprise that he got a new 3 year deal with the club.
But the gesture of his coach, Pep Guardiola, shows how much he values the importance of Sterling despite having a plethora of talent in Manchester City. In the absence of City's main playmaker, Kevin De Bruyne, Sterling played a huge role when it came to creating chances for the forwards.
Despite not being able to find the net against Manchester United in 12 games he played against them in the Premier League, he will have ample of responsibility when City takes on United today. He will be desperate to broke the deadlock which his 19 shots haven't been able to break.
It is time for 22 warriors to be on the pitch and make the whole world notice with their performances. Superstars like Sterling, Pogba, Laporte and Martial will have their chance at glory while a seasoned player like Aguero will make sure that people find his name in the history books.
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