The first Manchester derby of the season is gameweek 10’s top billing, and it arrives with a guarantee of typically fiery theatrics. We dissect all the key narratives ahead of Sunday afternoon with a comprehensive preview, along with our Manchester United vs Manchester City tips and predictions.
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Sun, 29 Oct 2023 , 15:30 GMT • Old Trafford • Premier League
Manchester United vs Manchester City Preview and Prediction
You wouldn’t have thought it given all the pre-match chatter, but Manchester United actually enter the derby with slightly better recent form on paper.
Consecutive victories, albeit both courtesy of late winners, over Brentford and Sheffield United have lifted them higher into the top half. A victory here could propel them into the top six should results elsewhere prove favourable.
They host neighbours City, who bounced back from their first consecutive defeats in five years with a hard-fought win over Brighton last time out, ensuring that they stayed ahead of Arsenal on goal difference for another week.
As history has proven time and time again, recent form typically goes out the window when the Manchester derby rolls around.
After hitting United for six at the Etihad last October, the repeat of this weekend’s fixture saw Erik Ten Hag get his first taste of victory in the derby in a memorable win back in January – goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford in the last quarter of an hour cancelled out Jack Grealish’s earlier effort.
While that result is the perfect example of the kind of effect a raucous Old Trafford faithful can have, United fans will likely be heading into the weekend with a certain amount of trepidation.
They have shown far too little desire and quality to match a City side who are back on track following a small blip, and we are predicting a comfortable win for Pep Guardiola’s men on Sunday.
Prediction: Manchester United 1 – 3 Manchester City
Manchester United vs Manchester City Tips
- Manchester City to Score Over 2.5 Goals and Win @ 2/1
- Julian Alvarez to Score @ 17/10
- Combined Odds @ 18/5
Manchester United vs Manchester City Tip 1: City to Score Over 2.5 Goals and Win
Removing their rather peculiar consecutive defeats, Manchester City have been their usual imperious selves so far this season.
Not even two losses on the trot could destabilise their early season push for a first ever three-peat of Premier League trophies, and they sit level with Arsenal, two points off Tottenham.
They hold the best defensive record in the league which certainly doesn’t bode well for United, but we prefer to focus on how many goals City are likely to score.
Across their nine games, Erik Ten Hag’s side have failed to keep a clean sheet in seven – against a City side who rarely draw blank, we could see them dismantling United with relative ease.
Although recent history flitters back and forth between the two, it is also worth mentioning that City have scored 13 goals across the last four meetings in all competitions.
Manchester United vs Manchester City Tip 2: Alvarez to Score
Julian Alvarez continues to endear himself to the Manchester City faithful, and a first ever derby goal would go someway to cementing his place in the history books.
Of course, Erling Haaland has continued his freakish exploits in front of goal and tops their scoring charts, but it can be argued that Alvarez has been their most important asset this year.
His ability to conjure up moments from nothing make him a dangerous dual-threat for goals and assists, and his eight involvements in nine games (four goals and four assists) is testament to that.
Drifting in between the pockets, he can pick up positions that have been the cause of much of United’s hurt this term, with their new-look midfield proving notoriously leaky.
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