(Manchester United News)
Manchester City have looked like Chelsea’s main challengers in the title race for most of the season but are now facing a battle to stay in the top four – with United potentially able to deal a damaging blow.
Manuel Pellegrini’s outfit have lost their last three away matches in the Barclays Premier League, against Crystal Palace, Burnley and Liverpool, and are in fourth place, one below United. These results have contributed to City dropping 20 points in 13 games since the turn of the year, and producing their worst record on the road for six years.
The Blues boss has remained calm in the face of their mini-slump. "We are not thinking about Chelsea, or about the title. We are just trying to win our games," he said after the Palace defeat.
City do, however, have the upper hand in recent Manchester derbies after winning the last four in a row, including their last two visits to Old Trafford. They prevailed 1-0 at the Etihad back in November thanks to a Sergio Aguero strike, and enjoyed a pair of convincing victories last season – 3-0 at Old Trafford and 4-1 at home. They also won 2-1 at Old Trafford in April 2013.
United’s last triumph over City came in December 2012 – a 3-2 turnover at the Etihad, with an injury-time winner from Robin van Persie clinching the game after Wayne Rooney had struck twice in the first half. The Reds haven’t won the home derby since April 2011, however, and in October 2011 were beaten 6-1 at Old Trafford - the club's worst home defeat since February 1955. Historically, United have 69 derby wins, City have 49, and there have been 49 draws.
Pellegrini has a virtually full squad to choose from on Sunday, with Wilfried Bony (ankle injury) the only player definitely ruled out, although captain Vincent Kompany is a doubt. The City boss likes to vary his formations, using both a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-2-1. Whichever he deploys, Sergio Aguero remains City’s key danger man. With 17 goals this term, he is just two shy of Diego Costa and Harry Kane as the Barclays Premier League’s top scorer.
After the derby, City have home games against West Ham and Aston Villa, then a run-in of Spurs away, QPR at home, Swansea away and finally Southampton at home.
