Manchester City, a consistent force in English football with four consecutive Premier League titles and six out of the last seven, has had an uncharacteristically poor start to the season. Despite being considered favorites to win the title again, they are currently in 4th place, trailing the league leaders by eight points.
The season began positively, but the team endured a setback with four consecutive losses to Bournemouth, Brighton, Tottenham, and Liverpool. While they managed to bounce back with a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, their 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace last weekend showed that the team is still struggling.
On the other hand, Manchester United’s campaign has been even more disappointing. Sitting in 13th place with only 19 points from 15 games, their performance has fallen far short of expectations.
After sacking manager Erik ten Hag in October, they briefly showed improvement under Ruben Amorim, including a 4-0 victory over Everton. However, recent defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest have put them back in a losing rut.
Manchester City’s struggles have been worsened by several injuries, including the loss of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri for the rest of the season and key defenders like John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Nathan Aké.
Midfielder Mateo Kovacic and striker Phil Foden are also uncertain for upcoming matches. Despite these setbacks, Erling Haaland has continued to shine, scoring 13 goals in the league, with Kevin De Bruyne offering strong support.
Similarly, Manchester United has its own injury concerns in defense, with Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, and Jonny Evans all sidelined. However, key players like Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, who has scored four goals this season, remain central to the team’s hopes, alongside rising star Alejandro Garnacho.
Prediction
Manchester City’s home form has been disappointing, with only two wins in their last 11 Premier League games at home. On the other hand, Manchester United has been strong on the road, winning four of their last five away matches. This could potentially lead to an upset in favor of the visitors.
Prediction: Manchester City 1 – 2 Manchester United
