Man City v Man United - Premier League Tips
In three out of four meetings last season, Manchester United needed a last-gasp goal to achieve the result they required against arch-rivals City. So there’s two questions you have to ask yourself as the teams prepare to square up again – are City better this season than last and, just as important, are United as good?
The answer to the first is probably narrowly in the affirmative. After all, you just don’t buy players like David Silva, Mario Balotelli, Jerome Boateng and Toure Yaya to maintain the equilibrium, but City’s problem is inconsistency. They’ve already lost to the likes of Sunderland and Wolves and were on a three-game losing streak prior to Sunday’s win over West Brom.
That game, in itself, summed up City’s season so far. Dominant in the first half when racing into a two-goal lead, they appeared to switch off after the break and were left hanging on in the closing stages following the dismissal of the enigmatic Balotelli. The Italian has terrific ability but will struggle to achieve legendary status at Eastlands if he keeps getting himself suspended. The good news for City is that Carlos Tevez is back, looking as good as ever and ready to torment his former employers again.
Sir Alex Ferguson will probably make special provision for the Argentinian, as he did on a couple of occasions last season, but he’ll be more intent on keeping up United’s momentum that has seen them slowly erode Chelsea’s lead at the top of the Premier League, despite some indifferent performances. United can still turn on the style on occasions but many of this year’s wins have been achieved more through hard graft and persistence - it speaks volumes that the industrious Park Ji-sung was their last-gasp hero against struggling Wolves at the weekend.
Ferguson’s team still have a habit of finding a goal when they need it but the manager would dearly love to have a fully-fit and focused Wayne Rooney back in his team and Ryan Giggs’ continued absence may also cost the Reds in the long run. New Old Trafford hero Javier Fernandez is doing his best to make up the shortfall but will need help in his first season in England if he’s to last the pace.
City lost to Arsenal at Eastlands last month, when playing most of the game with 10 men, but are normally very hard to beat in front of their own fans.
Preditions:
City @ 8/11 Draw No Bet.
Carlos Tevez is 13/10 to score anytime
