Paul Merson gives prediction for Manchester City vs Manchester United

It’s the first Manchester derby of the season, as United visit the Emirates Stadium for this Premier League encounter.

It’s a game between two sides who aren’t in the best of forms.

Paul Merson wrote for Sportskeeda ahead of the game: “This has not been Manchester City’s biggest game of the season for the last few years, the Liverpool and Arsenal clashes have been bigger. But with how they are playing now, this fixture has suddenly become very, very important.

“If Manchester City were a book and you were reading about them winning the Champions League, going on incredible runs and then suddenly you turn to this new chapter where they have just one win in 10 games while losing seven of them, you’d be throwing that book in the ocean!

“We never thought this would be possible. It has never happened before. We’ve all seen City before and if they were a goal down with just 20 minutes left to play, we would still back them to win. But that’s not the case with them anymore.

“Manchester United are 13th in the league now. They failed to even lay a glove on Arsenal and losing at home to Nottingham Forest after that was a stinker. After this game, they face Tottenham in the EFL Cup quarter-final and that’s another big clash for them.

“If Ruben Amorim wants to win this game, he must opt for a front-three with the likes of Amad Diallo, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho. Everybody is exposing City through counter-attacks and this trio can hurt them with their pace.”

He added: “Like I said, if United can hurt City with pace, they have a chance in this game. They must not sit back and go into a shell while trying to defend all the time.

“They must take the game to their rivals. I still think City hold the edge here though.”

Paul Merson prediction: Manchester City 2 vs 1 Manchester United