Manchester City will host rivals Manchester United on Sunday, at the Etihad. City are currently first in the table while United are fourth. It has been a tale of contrasting seasons so far, for the clubs from Manchester.
The Skyblues have done well in their title defense thus far but another slip-up will hand Liverpool an opportunity to take the top spot. The Red Devils, on the other hand, are battling it out for the fourth place and possibly, the third as well. Arsenal, West Ham United, Wolves, and Tottenham are chasing the Red Devils.
The game on Sunday is proving to be a very important fixture with any of the three results holding the potential to turn the flow of the League. A win will see the hosts solidify their hold on the first position while a loss would be the last thing they would want. Liverpool are maintaining pressure on City, with only three points separating the two.
There is a substantial amount of pressure on both sides and it will not be an easy game for either of them. Regardless of what their opponents’ recent form might suggest, City will not take United lightly. Their rivals, on the other hand, will be aware of City’s dominance this season. But, both teams have their own set of strengths and weaknesses. That said, let us have a look at the five potential players that could decide the course of this tie.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
It is a no-brainer, really. Ronaldo has proven himself in every major league that he has played in. This season as well, in a malfunctioning United set-up, he has scored nine times. In other words, he is the leading goal-scorer for United this season. Ronaldo is currently the best poacher out there and City will be assured that any loose balls in their keeper’s territory will be punished, should the 37-year-old be in the vicinity. Over the years, the former Juventus and Real Madrid striker has coped well with his aging and is now a proper target man.
Many pundits argue that Ronaldo has struggled this season which is true to an extent. The Portuguese striker though has unlocked his chance-creating skills as well. Finishing has been a cause of concern at Old Trafford but Ronaldo’s performance is not. Pep Guardiola has gone up against Ronaldo in the past and he will be wary of the 37-year-old’s match-winning capabilities. Ronaldo will be the key to United’s chances of securing a top-four finish this season, and of course, on Sunday.
2. Kevin De Bruyne
If it is Ronaldo for Manchester United, it has to be Kevin De Bruyne for the Cityzens. The Belgian midfielder has hit top form again and has looked lethal in his last few games. De Bruyne is most effective when playing against low blocks. This allows the de Bruyne a lot more time on the ball than he is used to. As they say, give De Bruyne time on the ball and he will punish you. The 30-year-old is the engine of a well-oiled Manchester City machine.
It is a well-known fact that De Bruyne is one of the best playmakers out there. His vision combined with his long balls is capable of penetrating even the tiniest of spaces. KDB can hold the ball for long periods of time and if given adequate space, launch a deadly shot on goal. The reason why De Bruyne scores so many goals from outside the box are because he is given space. He will be a headache to Ralf Rangnick’s plans. One cannot simply press a player like De Bruyne, who drags the defenders out of their positions to create spaces.
He has scored seven goals this season and has assisted twice. He will look to increase his goal tally on Sunday.
3. Jadon Sancho
Sancho is looking more like himself with each passing game. The former Borussia Dortmund winger has endured a relatively difficult first season at Manchester United. But, after a slow start, he has come good for Ralf Rangnick. His goal against Chelsea made sure that United salvaged at least a point against Chelsea. He has scored twice this season and has assisted on as many occasions.
Sancho, 21, is one of the brightest prospects in European football. He is most lethal when breaking from the attack. His pace and his dribbling will be put to test against City’s Joao Cancelo. United will not get many goal-scoring opportunities against City but will get limited chances to break from the pressure. This is where Sancho will be the key.
It will be an interesting match-up between Jadon Sancho and Joao Cancelo. Who do you think could come out on top?
4. Bernardo Silva
Pep Guardiola recently said in a press conference that some players run the team without having statistics to back their contributions. Silva is one such player. Make no mistake, he has scored seven goals and has assisted once this season in the Premier League which are decent numbers. However, the numbers fall short of justifying how good the Portuguese midfielder has been for Pep Guardiola, this season.
He has averaged 1.6 key passes per game, in addition to having an average pass success rate of 88.8%. Pep has used Silva as a false nine more often than not, this season. In the absence of a pure striker, Silva has made the false nine spot his own. The fascinating aspect of Bernardo Silva’s gameplay is his versatility. He can play almost anywhere in the midfield and the frontline.
Silva combined with De Bruyne will be essential to City’s chances on Sunday. The duo will be looking to create chances while also attempting on goal by themselves. United cannot afford to give too much time and space on the ball to this duo. United will have to pay if they commit these blunders. However, they cannot play out of their positions for long, especially if they are employing a low block. It will be a difficult test for Ralf Rangnick and his men to contain Silva and De Bruyne.
5. David de Gea
David de Gea has been Manchester United’s best player this season. The Spaniard’s form this season has taken a massive U-turn this season and now he looks like a completely different player, at the top of his game. de Gea will have a lot of work to do on Sunday. United will need de Gea to maintain his purple patch if they are to salvage anything from the game. He has made 98 saves this season and has kept seven clean sheets. David de Gea has singlehandedly prevented United from suffering embarrassing defeats.
The 31-year-old however, has been criticized for his ball distribution skills, giving the impression that he is perhaps not a modern-day keeper. While de Gea has been sensational between the sticks, his passing has drawn criticism. His clearances and distance passing need to be better. In a game where the Red Devils will look to attack via long balls, de Gea’s distribution skills become absolutely vital.
Will David de Gea pull his best performance out of his hat to keep another clean sheet?