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TKTG brings together all the best articles from around the web on today’s thriller between 1st placed Manchester United against 2nd placed Manchester City at Old Trafford.
ESPNFC
With a 15-point gap between the top two, Manchester’s second derby of the season has lost some of the intrigue that it would normally expect. The title race is all but over; even a City win is unlikely to spark a United capitulation. Beyond northern pride, this game will have little impact on the season.
United have fallen below their high standards across all fronts this season as they were knocked out of the FA Cup, Capital One Cup and were beaten by Real Madrid in the Champions League, but with seven games left they are in full control of reclaiming their title from the blue half of Manchester.
A 3-2 win back in December is where the title race may have changed, as Robin van Persie’s stoppage time winner evaded Joe Hart and put United six points clear. They have never really looked back and their 25 wins from their 30 games is unprecedented in the Premier League era.
City, meanwhile, have the FA Cup to play for but little else. With the sale of Mario Balotelli leaving them short up front in January, the champions have looked sluggish since the turn of the year and their away form has seen them drop valuable points at QPR, Southampton and Everton. Too often their big-name players have not stood up to be counted and, as the club’s hierarchy comes to terms with the loss of their title, it will be interesting to see how many are there at the start of the next campaign. Although at least Yaya Toure has committed himself.
Manager Roberto Mancini, too, has been subject of constant speculation over his future, and his recent criticism of the likes of Samir Nasri and Vincent Kompany has added more fuel to the fire. A morale-boosting win over United would get the fans back on his side but, ultimately, it would be too little, too late.
Read the entire preview by ESPNFC’s Jon Carter
BBC Sport
Wayne Rooney should return for Monday’s Manchester derby after a two-match absence with a groin strain.
Rafael has overcome a similar problem, but Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans are doubts with respective back and hamstring injuries.
Manchester City have no fresh injury concerns for their trip to Old Trafford.
Jack Rodwell misses out but should be available for the FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea next weekend.
MATCH PREVIEW
After one of the most humiliating defeats in their history, Manchester United have the chance to avenge the 6-1 mauling they suffered at the hands of cross-city rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford last season, and all but completely wrestle the Premier League trophy back from the Etihad Stadium.
Sir Alex Ferguson has said he has never watched a repeat of that game saying: “Why would I? I am not into self-flagellation”. But what is clear is that he has got his team to exact revenge in the best possible fashion.
As victory on Monday night would put Ferguson’s men an incredible 18 points clear of City and leave them requiring just four more points to win the title from their last seven matches.
Ferguson finally admitted himself this week that he knows the Premier League crown will be back in the Old Trafford trophy cabinet come May and is well aware of the significance that has for the club’s supporters.
Read the complete preview from BBC Sport
Goal.com
When Manchester United and Manchester City emerge from the Old Trafford tunnel at 8pm on Monday evening for the city’s 165th derby, ‘This is the One’ by the Stone Roses will greet them. For Sir Alex Ferguson, his team and all those on the red side of this ever-thinning divide, no soundtrack could be more apt.
They’ve waited long enough for this. Nearly 18 months have passed since that day. That humiliating, ground-shaking, “worst ever” day. 6-1. Six in the city. Manchester’s new, blue order.
Try as they might, United haven’t been allowed to forget their worst home defeat since 1955. From mugs, hoodies and posters to the big screen at each of the three derbies at the Etihad Stadium since, City and their fans have kept the reminders coming. Balotelli’s t-shirt, De Gea beating the floor, Dzeko needing both hands to spell out the score to the away fans, effervescent in the top corner of Old Trafford’s East Stand. The noisy neighbours have watched their rivals squirm since October 2011.
And who, really, can blame them? For all of the Abu Dhabi millions, the FA Cup semi-final win over Ferguson’s side in 2010 and, of course, last May’s outrageous, delirious title win, City did their time for long enough. As glorious failure defined the club, their neighbours relentlessly spent two decades winning it all. Author Colin Shindler describes the dynamic of being a City fan akin to spending your life with your nose pressed up against the sweet shop window, watching the United supporters take all the wine gums.
Read the article by Goal.com’s Jonathan Birchall
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