Manchester Derby: United seeks redemption against City at Old Trafford

The highly anticipated Manchester derby is set to take place at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Manchester United looking to exact revenge on defending Premier League champions Manchester City. The two teams have a long and storied history, with United leading the head-to-head record with 80 wins to City’s 62.

Team News and Injuries
Manchester United will be without several key players, including Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Ayden Heaven, Amad Diallo, Lisandro Martinez, and Jonny Evans, due to injuries. Meanwhile, Manchester City will be missing Rodri, Nathan Ake, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Oscar Bobb.

Star striker Erling Haaland is also a doubt for City due to injury, but he could potentially feature against United.

The Stakes
While both teams are out of the running for the league title, the Manchester derby is always a high-stakes affair. City is looking to secure a UEFA Champions League spot for next season, while United has an outside chance of finishing among the Europa League spots.

Recent Form
United comes into the match on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in midweek, while City got the better of Leicester City with a 2-0 win on Thursday. The Red Devils are currently in 13th position in the league standings with 37 points from 30 matches, while City sits in fifth spot with 51 points from 30 games.

Head-to-Head Record
The two teams have faced off 195 times in the past, with United leading the head-to-head record courtesy of 80 wins. City have won 62 times, while the two teams have drawn on 53 occasions. The last time these two met in the Premier League, United scored two late goals to come away with a 2-1 win and all three points from the Etihad Stadium in December.

Saturday’s star match

Everton held title-chasing Arsenal to a 1-1 Premier League draw at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Iliman Ndiaye’s penalty cancelled out Leandro Trossard’s opener for the visitors.

Second-placed Arsenal have 62 points from 31 games, 11 behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game at hand when they go to Fulham on Sunday. Everton climb to 14th place with 35 points from their 31 matches, 15 points clear of the relegation zone.

Arteta had a day to forget

Arsenal took the lead in the 34th minute with the first shot on target in the game as a poor header in midfield allowed Raheem Sterling to race clear and feed Trossard, who took a touch and drilled his shot low into the far right corner.

Everton were awarded a penalty two minutes into the second period when Myles Lewis-Skelly hauled down Jack Harrison in the box and Ndiaye netted his ninth goal of the season in all competitions to leave Arsenal’s flagging title hopes in tatters.

“It is a tough one, in general we played well but how we started the second half was not good enough,” Trossard said. “We know this is a tough place to come and you need to score the second goal to put the game to bed. In the second half we played too much into their game-plan and not enough of ours.”

There was a touching moment before kickoff as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta embraced the man he calls his “football father” David Moyes, who had given the former midfielder his introduction to the English game when the Spaniard spent almost seven years at Everton.

The match was a scrappy contest for the most part with neither side able to be at their best, but Arsenal had the better chances and will be disappointed they could not force a second goal. For Everton it was another point towards safety in the fourth-last game at their famous old stadium before moving to a new home next season.

“It is a great point,” Ndiaye said. “We were not good enough in the first half, but we were able to turn things around and everyone came more into it.”

The draw was Everton’s 14th of the campaign, more than any other side has managed, including Arsenal, who are now joint second on that list with 11.

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