A very important derby game for both sides, but for two very different reasons, which Manchester club will prevail with the three points?

At this point in the season would you have believed me if I had told you that Manchester United’s only real purpose for the rest of the Premier League season was to take points off the title challengers? Probably not. However, for David Moyes this game is all about pride, having lost three out of their three derby games (Liverpool twice and Man City at the Etihad) already this season.

Manchester United will be without last weeks Champions League hero Robin Van Persie, who was stretchered off after notching a fantastic hat-trick to eliminate Greek side Olympiakos. On Saturday evening, up stepped one Wayne Rooney to fill the void of the Dutch international, and the striker scored both goals to grab three points at West Ham. His speculative 58 yard effort made all the headlines, perhaps not quite as many as his bicycle kick against Tuesday nights opponents. Rooney has 8 goals in 14 starts in this fixture, and the odds of him to notch first are 7/1 at Ladbrokes, or for him to score at any point in the game, the odds are 15/8 at PaddyPower.

Manchester City are also without one of their star centre forwards, in the shape of Sergio Aguero. The Argentine is missing through a hamstring injury, so Alvaro Negredo is the most likely candidate to lead the line. However the out of form Spaniard isn’t the focal point of the City scoring threat, that will lie with 16 goal Yaya Toure, who is fresh from slotting three past Fulham on Saturday, the big Ivorian seems unplayable at the moment. Vincent Kompany’s return to the heart of the City defence will be a major lift to Manuel Pellegrini’s side, however its the prowess of the Citizen’s no.42 that will no doubt cause the most damage. Yaya Toure is at 8/1 to score first, to score anytime during the game, 12/5, and to repeat the feat of Saturday and grab another hat-trick is 100/1, all at bet365.

Looking at the head to head record between these two sides, there is bound to goals, with 31 strikes in only the last 7 meetings. City have won the last five meetings in the Premier League the two sides, including two wins at Old Trafford, and the 4-1 victory at the Etihad stadium earlier this season. With an  average of almost 4.5 goals per game over the last seven games, the odds of at least of four goals in the game look good, and with bet365 offering 4/1 odds of over 4.5 goals, the bet looks tantalizing. As for the winner, I can only see one winner, City’s sheer power will surely overhaul United’s fragile defence. It could get even messier for David Moyes.

MY PREDICTION: Manchester United 2-4 Manchester City, odds are 60/1 at BetVictor.

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