Manchester United vs Manchester City Preview

September 9, 2016
By: Deke Hardman

Kun Aguero

Saturday’s Premier League action kicks off at Old Trafford where title rivals Manchester United and Manchester City face off in the one hundred and sixty-eighth Manchester derby.

Jose Mourinho’s men go into the game on the back of a last-gasp victory over Hull City with substitute Marcus Rashford scoring a stoppage time winner at the KC Stadium a fortnight ago.

That result made it three wins from three and victroy here would see them leapfrog both 2015 champions Chelsea and their opponents into first place.

Rashford followed his winner against the Tigers with a hat-trick on his England U21’s debut though he is unlikely to start with Zlatan Ibrahimovic set to lead the line once more.

Luke Shaw and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have both shook off minor injuries in time to be considered for selection while Antonio Valencia is also available.

Ibrahimovic is favourite to open the scoring at 6.5 (11/2) with a variety of firms with captain Wayne Rooney is a 9.0 (8/1) chance with Betfair.

The home win is widely available at 2.38 (11/8) with the visitors as highly priced as the 3.5 (5/2) on offer from William Hill. The draw can be backed at 3.3 (23/10).

Pep Guardiola’s side have also won their open three matches and began September on top of the table after racking up a goal difference of plus six – one better than both United and second place Chelsea.

They beat West Ham United 3-1 last time out though the talking point from the games was Sergio Aguero’s elbow, which earned the Argentina international a three game ban which begins this weekend.

It remains to be seen how Guardiola will reshuffle his pack though he could opt to play Player of the Month Raheem Sterling through the middle, with the England international netting twice in that win over the Hammers.

Leroy Sane and Ilkay Gundogan are now fit to make their City debuts, along with goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

Sterling is priced at 15.0 (14/1) to get the first goal of the game with Sky Bet with Nolito a 9.0 (8/1) shot with several bookmakers.

Three of the last four meetings between the sides have seen fewer that two goals in the game and you can back that outcome this time around at 3.25 (9/4) with Bet 365.

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