Enda McElhinney’s tips for Sunday’s huge Manchester derby at the Etihad include a win for City with an England international breaking the deadlock.
It’s the Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon as crisis-hit champions City welcome United to the Etihad Stadium.
City’s fall from grace has been as dramatic as it has been unexpected, with the champions losing seven and winning just one of their last 10 games in all competitions.
Pep Guardiola is under intense scrutiny as unwanted records pile up around him for the first time in his managerial career.
His United counterpart Ruben Amorim, meanwhile, will run the derby gauntlet for the first time but will be aiming to inflict a second defeat on City in a matter of weeks after guiding former club Sporting Lisbon to a 4-1 Champions League victory over the Citizens before leaving for Old Trafford.
Best Bets
Man City to win and both teams to score
17/10
Jack Grealish to score first
9/1
Bet Builder – Over 9.5 corners, Over 2.5 goals & under 4.5 cards @ 16/5
City should still hold the aces
Backing Manchester City right now comes with clear risks and taking odds of 11/20 about a home win at the Etihad on Sunday makes little appeal.
That said, United’s start under Amorim has hardly been electrifying and successive Premier League losses to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest have illustrated that the Red Devils remain shrouded in mediocrity.
There is going to be no quick fix for the Portuguese whereas, for all their recent worries, City could still click into gear at any moment.
Taking a City win and both teams to find the net could be the best approach.
There hasn’t been a Premier League draw between the Manchester pair since December 2020, with City winning five of the last six in the league, while both teams have scored in six of the last seven meetings in all competitions.
City’s seven losses in 10 games includes only a single home defeat but they have conceded in five of their seven league games at the Etihad.
United have scored on their previous three trips across Manchester and may do so again on Sunday, albeit in defeat.
Grealish can shine in derby tussle
Jack Grealish has been in and out of City’s starting line-up this season and his only goals this term have come in an England shirt against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
He has started three of the last five games, though, and it wouldn’t be a shock if Guardiola were to lean on him again in Sunday’s derby.
Grealish has a decent record in this fixture, with three wins and a draw, as well as one goal, in four Premier League appearances for City against United.
Nottingham Forest ace Morgan Gibbs-White found plenty of joy roaming in front of United’s backline last week and Grealish could take advantage of a Red Devils midfield that often fails to provide much protection.
He has taken five shots at goal in his previous two home starts and is a live contender to break the deadlock.
Don’t expect a bundle of Christmas cards
City’s last four home outings have featured at least 10 corners, so that looks a good place to start for any bet builder.
Goals seem likely, too, as City have managed just one clean sheet in 10 while United have shut out their opponents on only three occasions in their last 12 games.
A bet on over 2.5 goals is a logical second leg but don’t expect too many cards at the Etihad.
There have been fewer than five cards shown in the last three Manchester derbies and all but one of the last 12 in all.
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