Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher agree on prediction for Man Utd vs Man City
Manchester United beat Manchester City when the teams met in the Premier League back in December and City will go into the reverse fixture without Erling Haaland
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher expect Sunday’s Manchester Derby to end in a draw. Manchester United claimed a surprise win at the Etihad Stadium in December, and Neville in particular has been impressed with how Ruben Amorim’s side have fared in big games this term.
In addition to that derby victory, Amorim led his team to a penalty shootout victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup. United also drew with Arsenal in the league in March and claimed a 2-2 draw against runaway league leaders Liverpool.
Both teams are without key figures for the derby. City’s top scorer Erling Haaland is set to miss the remainder of the season through injury, while Amad – who scored the winner in the reverse fixture – remains sidelined himself.
“United have done well in big games, haven’t they?” Neville said on The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet. “Against Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City [this season], United have done pretty well in those games.
Neville then gave his and Carragher’s prediction for the encounter. “I think it could be a draw,” he said. “I think 1-1 but we will say 2-2.”
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Manchester City’s preparations for the game have been impacted by the news that Kevin De Bruyne will leave at the end of the season. The Belgian playmaker confirmed the news on Friday, with manager Pep Guardiola paying tribute in his pre-match press conference.
“When Vincent (Kompany) left or Sergio (Aguero) left or David Silva, it’s a sad day,” Guardiola said. “We still have 10 games – hopefully 11 – that we can enjoy with our fans and he will get the love and recognition that he deserves.”
When reflecting on what’s in store for De Bruyne after his departure, the City boss added: “He’s part of the club. The club has said to him the door is open for the rest of his life, whatever he wants to do. He is part of the family of the club.”
United go into the game off the back of a 1-0 defeat away at Nottingham Forest which stopped their unbeaten run at four games. That remains their joint-longest undefeated run in the league all season, and they’ll be after a result against City to prepare them for the Europa League quarter-final first leg against Lyon.
“”If you look at the game we are improving the way we play football, we are creating chances and dominating the games more,” head coach Ruben Amorim told BBC Radio 5 Live when asked about preparations for the derby. “We know that this season is going to be like that, win momentum, lose momentum. We continue going into the next match.”
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