There has been plenty to smile about at Man United since their loss to City, as Erik ten Hag has steered his side on a superb run of form, losing just one of their last 18 competitive matches – a 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa in early November – and they have won all six games since the World Cup break.
United’s most recent success came in the EFL Cup when they booked their place in the semi-finals courtesy of a 3-0 home winover Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night, with in-form attacker Marcus Rashford (2) and summer signing Antony both on the scoresheet.
Ten Hag has now won 20 of his first 27 competitive matches in charge of the Red Devils, the fewest games taken to reach this landmark by any manager in the club’s history.
The Dutchman appears to have restored belief at the Theatre of Dreams having overseen vast improvement in fortunes, with domestic cup glory and a top-four place in the Premier League now firmly in their sights this season.
Man United, who currently sit fourth in the Premier League table and level on points with Newcastle United in third, have accumulated more points (35) than any other team since and including their 2-1 victory over Liverpool on August 22, winning 11 of their 15 matches during this period.
However, their rich vein of form will be put to the test by reigning top-flight champions Man City, who have come out on top in each of the last three Manchester derbies by an aggregate score of 12-4. The Red Devils have also lost more Premier League home fixtures against the Citizens (eight) than against any other opponent.
Man United’s overall form and recent run at Old Trafford bodes well ahead of Saturday’s contest, though, as they have won nine consecutive games on home soil and have kept seven clean sheets in the process.
Victory for Ten Hag and co would move them to within one point of City in second place and six points behind leaders Arsenal, who follow up Sunday’s North London derby with a clash
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against United next weekend. Audacious conversations of a potential title charge for the Red Devils may soon come to the fore should their strong form continue, with 20 league games still remaining.
After cruising to a 4-0 victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup third round last weekend, many would have predicted another comfortable win for Man City against Premier League basement club Southampton in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday night.
However, the Citizens were deservedly beaten 2-0 by the Saints and failed to register a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes for the first time in 275 matches since a 3-0 Champions League loss to Liverpool in April 2018. Pqep Guardiola also endured the first-ever domestic cup quarter-final exit of his managerial career, ending a 15-game winning streak at this stage.
