Despite the Premier League being only four games old, Sunday’s result at the Etihad is still likely to have a significant effect on the destination of the title, as both sides will surely be in the shake-up come the end of the season.

Manuel Pellegrini will have keeping as many appendages crossed as physically possible in the hope that City captain Vincent Kompany will be fit enough to start for the home side. David Silva is the major doubt for Pellegrini’s men, as he continues his recovery from the thigh injury that has kept the Spaniard out of City’s previous two fixtures.

After sitting out all of United’s league fixtures this season, Shinji Kagawa could return to the starting lineup after a promising 71 minutes against Leverkusen on Tuesday, but Nani and Ashley Young are both in contention.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Generally, this fixture has hardly been a goal-fest, with six of the last seven meetings between the two Manchester clubs at the Etihad ending with less than two goals scored. Last season’s tie broke the mould though, with Robin van Persie’s last-minute goal sealing a 2-3 victory after City had looked to have secured a point with Pablo Zabaleta’s 86th minute equaliser.

FORMATIONS

David Moyes’ side looked as balanced as it had for some time in Tuesday’s game against Leverkusen and it would be a major surprise if the Scot veers away from the 4-2-3-1 we saw against the German side.

Shinji Kagawa should resume his midweek position, given the freedom to drift in from the left into his more natural number ten position, with Patrice Evra providing width on the left as he has done with aplomb this season so far.

In midfield, Marouane Fellaini should continue alongside the ever-excellent Michael Carrick in a partnership that, despite being in its infancy, is beginning to show signs of bearing real fruit.

In a recent interview, Manuel Pellegrini has shied away from suggesting his sides have ever been governed by any one favourite system, preferring instead to focus on players able to keep possession and dominate midfield.

The Chilean also revealed he prefers to develop a strike partnership with his teams and at City this season, we have seen a modern deviation on, the classically English big man-little man combination in tandem in each game.

Manchester City’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain may favour the 4-3-3 as utilised by his former club Barcelona, but under Pellegrini this season, City have switched throughout games from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2, with David Silva’s ever-changing role throughout games playing a major part in shaping the rest of the City side.

Wayne Rooney

Having scored two goals in this fixture last December, Wayne Rooney will be looking to continue his fine form since beginning his reintegration to the United side, following the summer of uncertainty and speculation of a transfer to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.

Rooney has arguably been United’s best player over the previous two fixtures, picking up two goals that ended any real contest between United and Leverkusen on Tuesday, following on from last weekend’s performance against Crystal Palace which demonstrated his willingness and ability to drop deep, find space and create chances for those around him – something Robin van Persie will surely thrive upon.

KEY BATTLES

Jesus Navas v Patrice Evra

With the width on this side of the pitch (City’s right, United’s left) coming almost exclusively from these two players, the outcome of their matchup could go some way to determining the outcome of this fixture.

If both sides match up evenly in the centre of the pitch and possession is shared fairly equally, the side who dominate the wide areas will most likely come out on top.

If Evra can push forwards on to his opposite full-back, Zabaleta, extra space should be there for Kagawa, or whoever may play on United’s left, to exploit.

However, if Navas can get forward and occupy Evra for much of the game, expect to see the overlap, from the ever willing Zabaleta, to lead to plenty of crosses into the box, in turn leading to plenty of chances for Edin Dzeko.

Aleksandar Kolarov v Antonio Valencia

With Manchester City’s left-hand side looking defensively weak on paper, Antonio Valencia could prove a key man in Sunday’s derby match-up, especially if Chris Smalling can get forward in support of the Ecuadorian and create two versus one situations against City’s left-back, Aleksandar Kolarov.

City will need to find some way to stop the United duo doubling up on the unprotected left back.

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