Mancini’s men will go all out vs United

The top two sides in England are set to face-off this weekend, but Manchester United and Manchester City hardly need league positions to motivate them in this derby fixture.

As the only unbeaten side in the Premier League, Roberto Mancini’s men will go all out in their attempt to defeat the team many consider to be the only real threat to City’s championship defence. However, a loss for the Red Devils would see them cede first position to their neighbours, something Alex Ferguson would loathe to do after his team recorded a series of clinical wins in recent games.

Although both clubs are within touching distance of each other in the league table, the upcoming derby will be contested by two very different squads. With the rapidly improving Matija Nastasic taking cues from skipper Vincent Kompany and Joe Hart’s return to form, City boast the best defensive record in the league, a far cry from the leaky United defence who have conceded almost double that of Mancini’s team.

The Red Devils have yet to be punished for their slipshod defending because of the goals scored by in-form duo Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, but their inability to convert for most of the game against West Ham should be sufficient enough warning that the team will not always be able to rake in the goals after they fall behind.

Perhaps the only consolation for United is the lacklustre performances put on by the City attack. With the exception of their 5-0 hammering of Aston Villa, two of the strikes coming courtesy of the penalty spot, they have struggled to break down opponents, though one could certainly acknowledge that clubs such as Chelsea and Everton were always going to prove a challenge.

Nevertheless, I am expecting Ferguson to put a damper on United’s attacking ways in this fixture, simply because they cannot afford to concede a high number of goals against the defending champions. Regardless of the Red Devils’ impressive comeback record, City are certainly not Reading. Mancini’s team will come out on top in the game and the table if United let in three goals against them like they did when playing the Royals.

—Former Liverpool and England International Steve McMahon is a football expert with ESPN