Manchester City Faces Manchester United In High-Stakes Premier League Derby

In the Premier League, Manchester’s struggling clubs will go head-to-head this Sunday as City takes on United.

Meanwhile, Newcastle’s manager, Eddie Howe, is in desperate need of a victory against Leicester at St James’ Park.

Leaders Liverpool, playing Fulham at Anfield, will expect to stretch their lead at the top of the table a day before second-placed Chelsea take on Brentford.

Sportxparte looks at the major talking points ahead of the weekend action.

Derby Day for struggling Manchester clubs

Manchester City’s current form of just one win in their last 10 matches across all competitions marks an unprecedented slump for the English champions under Pep Guardiola’s management.

Guardiola admitted he was questioning himself after the club’s latest defeat, a 2-0 loss at Juventus, left them in danger of missing out on the Champions League knockout stages.

Among several striking statistics, Manchester City has conceded more goals than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues since the start of November, allowing 21 goals in just nine matches.

However, despite their horrific run, the blue side of Manchester are still eight points clear of a United team who have tumbled to 13th in the table.

Since taking over at Old Trafford, new United manager Ruben Amorim has won only one of his four Premier League matches.

However, he has recent success against Guardiola’s side, having led Sporting Lisbon to a 4-1 Champions League victory over City in his final home match with the Portuguese champions.

However, City might not be quaking in their boots misfiring United have an embarrassing recent record at the Etihad, shipping 13 goals in their past three Premier League matches during three heavy defeats.

Klopp urges Liverpool to maintain high standards

Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, has called for more from his team following their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Girona, which maintained their perfect record in the Champions League.

The Reds were held 3-3 by Newcastle in their most recent Premier League outing, with last weekend’s Merseyside derby at Everton called off due to high winds.

Slot is eager to see a return to the intensity his players demonstrated in their home victories against Real Madrid and Manchester City.

“I’m far from pleased about the performance,” said the Dutchman, bemoaning his side’s lack of control against Girona in midweek.

In-form Chelsea took advantage of Liverpool’s inactivity last weekend to move four points behind the leaders.

The Blues possess the most formidable attack in the league and will aim to further exploit Brentford’s dismal away record when the two teams clash at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal, who host Everton, are a further two points back.

Howe faces increased scrutiny

Winless in their last four matches, Newcastle finds themselves struggling in 12th place in the Premier League table.

Hopes that the Magpies’ lack of European football this season would free them for another challenge for a top-four finish, which they achieved in the 2022/23 season, have so far proved over-optimistic.

Inconsistency has been central to the struggles of Eddie Howe’s men.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham have all dropped points at St. James’ Park; however, home losses to Brighton and West Ham, along with only two away wins, have intensified the pressure on Howe.

The Englishman is said to be in a precarious position following changes in the club’s hierarchy, with several key allies having departed.

Sporting director Dan Ashworth left earlier this year and has since been associated with Old Trafford, while former co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi sold their minority stake in the club in July.

“Howe cannot escape scrutiny,” former Newcastle captain Alan Shearer told The Athletic. “Ultimately, he is responsible for results and performances, and neither looks great.”