The Daily Star Ireland
Manchester City, typically a dominant force in English football with four consecutive Premier League titles and six out of the last seven, has had an unexpectedly sluggish start to the season. Despite being favorites, they currently sit in 4th place, eight points behind the leaders. Their season began well but took a downturn with four consecutive defeats to Bournemouth, Brighton, Tottenham, and Liverpool. They managed to secure a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, but a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace last weekend highlighted their ongoing struggles.
In comparison, Manchester United’s season has been even more disappointing. They are currently in 13th place with just 19 points from 15 matches. After parting ways with manager Erik ten Hag in October, the team, now under Ruben Amorim, initially showed signs of improvement, including a 4-0 victory over Everton. However, they have since fallen back into a losing streak, with defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
Manchester City’s issues have been compounded by injuries, including the loss of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri for the season and key defenders like John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Nathan Aké. Additionally, midfielder Mateo Kovacic and striker Phil Foden face uncertainty regarding their availability. Despite these challenges, Erling Haaland continues to be a crucial offensive player, having scored 13 goals in the league, with support from Kevin De Bruyne.
Manchester United is also grappling with injuries in their defense, with Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, and Jonny Evans all sidelined. Nevertheless, players such as Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, who has scored four goals, remain vital to the team’s prospects, along with emerging talent Alejandro Garnacho.
Prediction
Despite their difficulties, Manchester City’s home form has been poor, with only two wins in their last 11 Premier League home games. Conversely, Manchester United has shown strength in their away matches, winning four out of their last five away games. This sets up a potential upset.
Prediction: Manchester City 1 – 2 Manchester United
