The 198th Manchester derby headlines Match Week 22 of the Premier League season as Manchester United hosts their noisy neighbors at Old Trafford.
This is a big match for both clubs. Manchester City needs a win to keep pressure on Arsenal after a couple of disappointing results in the league over the Christmas/New Year period. United are at the start of another new beginning, the fourth or fifth in the last few years, with Michael Carrick looking to win his first match in charge (this spell) in his role of interim boss until the end of the season.
Here is a look ahead at the contest.
Manchester United vs Manchester City Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
Manchester United VS Manchester City Date: Saturday, January 17
Manchester United VS Manchester City Odds:
History
The history of this contest is skewed in United’s favor. They have won 80 matches to City’s 62, while a draw has been the result in the Manchester derby 55 times.
The last time that this fixture was played at Old Trafford was last April in a non-event of a match that finished 0-0. Carrick would probably take that result, especially with United’s next fixture against Arsenal, and he would certainly prefer it to the 3-0 thumping that the Red Devils received at The Etihad back in September.
Manchester United
This is Carrick’s second attempt at the caretaker role. In November/December of 2021, he faced three games in charge, winning two and drawing one before United appointed Ralf Rangnick in a similar role to the one Carrick now has.
It has been a strange season on the red side of Manchester. Defeat to Brighton last weekend in the FA Cup third round means that United, who are not in Europe and have long been out of the Carabao Cup, will play just 40 matches this season. This marks their fewest in a league campaign in more than 110 years.
Even so, they are still just three points behind the top four in a league where the top five teams have a shot at a Champions League spot next season.
Manchester City
City were clearly annoyed with their form at the start of the year. Three draws in a row have seen Arsenal pull ahead in the title race, with a six-point lead over the Citizens coming into the weekend. Their response was violent, with City annihilating League 1 Exeter City 10-1 in the FA Cup. They followed that up with a 2-0 win over Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi, a game where they were on it until the very last whistle.
The addition of winger Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth looks like a shrewd bit of business. Semenyo is Premier League proven and has slotted straight into City’s side with two Man of the Match displays in two wins.
Best Bets
United haven’t failed to score against City across their two league meetings since 1973-74. They have been better away from home, with four of their last five matches against City at Old Trafford resulting in a blank score for the hosts.
City are unbeaten in 13 matches across all comps. This includes a run of six wins and three draws in their last nine Premier League fixtures.
A bet builder of City to win, Semenyo to score anytime, and both teams to score looks tasty at 93/20 with BetXchange.
