United's Etihad joy won't happen for fourth time
Manchester City will be seeking to shake off their home day blues against the red half of the city when United visit the Etihad on Sunday. The hosts might have seen Liverpool move to within three points by the time the derby kicks off, and only a win against their rivals will help to silence some doubting voices in Eastlands. Read our preview here:
The Stones to prove it
One of the more surprising recent developments at the current champions has been the successful deployment of John Stones at right-back, a position and role last held with any regularity in his Barnsley days. There, he'll need to keep Jadon Sancho at arm's length by sitting more narrowly when the visitors attack down that flank whilst using his passing range to launch a move of his own. Raheem Sterling might have to be content with a place on the bench, with Bernardo Silva being the false nine.
Mag's sprung a leak
Though the Red Devils haven't been consistent in quite some time, one thing that remains the case is the disquiet around how they're set up under Ralf Rangnick, which has now spread to more leaks to the press surrounding Harry Maguire's performance levels from others in the squad. The disharmony in the dressing room is not new, but it is crippling their top four hopes. If selected, he'll win any air war against Silva, but could be dragged out of the backline with alarming frequency in an attempt to close down the space between the lines.
Betting tip
The biggest names for United will be on the teamsheet regardless of form or fitness, and it is a reflection of how things are in Stretford that the best they can hope for the foreseeable future is damaging City's own title chances rather than enhancing their own, sitting 19 points off top with a third of the campaign to play. Pep Guardiola needs his charges to be ruthless on Sunday, and bet365 have odds of 2.17 for them to be winning at both half-time and full-time.
