Sunday’s Manchester derby is the biggest for years

Manchester United host rivals Manchester City in one of the biggest derbies for years.

The two teams have started the season in excellent form and find themselves in first and second place in the Premier League table.

Unusual

Manchester City find themselves in the rather unusual position of being top of the Premier League.

They are also in the unusual position of being above their bitter and more successful rivals United. And I don’t think City will be willing to give up top spot easily at Old Trafford.

Victories

The trip to Old Trafford will be a really big challenge for Manchester City. City will head into this clash in buoyant mood though after gaining a last-gasp victory over Villarreal in the Champions League. United also gained a midweek Champions League victory with Wayne Rooney grabbing a double against Otelul Galati.

Message

This game is a chance for Manchester City to prove that they belong at the top of the Premier League. They have lived in the shadow of their city rivals for along time now and this is a chance to show United that they mean business this season.

However if Manchester United win then they could be sending out a message that they are still the team to beat and are still top dogs in the city and Premier League.

Psychological

Whoever wins the game will have a big psychological advantage going into the rest of the season. When two big rivals meet it usually helps determine how the their season goes. A defeat could severely damage a clubs chances of winning silverware.

Mentality

Manchester United are accustomed to winning these big matches. They have a winning habit and it’s a good thing to have. Their neighbours now need to find the same qualities within their club. When City do develop this winning mentality they will start to win the big trophies.

City have started to develop a winning mentality but Manchester United have had a winning mentality for the last twenty years and City have some catching up to do.

Aguero vs. Rooney

Both clubs have quality players in their squad but I think the key to Sunday’s game will be their strike forces, in particular Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero. The pair were on the score sheet as United and City claimed their midweek Champions League victories.

United’s Wayne Rooney bounced back well from his disappointment of being left out of the United team against Liverpool last weekend, with a double in Romania in midweek. Rooney is a big game player and this is the sort of clash that he relishes playing in. He just needs to channel his emotions into something positive, rather than letting the opposition get at him.

Argentinian international Sergio Aguero has been struggling with injury in recent weeks but came off the bench to score City a vital midweek winner for City on Tuesday night. City boss Roberto Mancini knows that Aguero is his key player and tried to rest the Argentinian but City desperately needed a goal against Villarreal.

Without doubt Rooney and Aguero have sensational talent. They are the sort of players that turn good teams into excellent teams. These are the sort of special players that every team wants to have. The sort of players that people are happy to pay their hard earned money to watch.

Spectacle

Manchester United vs. Manchester City is the sort of game that makes the Premier League special. The passion, the quality of play and the excitement. For neutral this will be a superb spectacle. Fans of the two clubs will however be anything but neutral.

I’m sure both sets of fans will be nervous but confident about the game. It will no doubt be a tight contest and too be honest I couldn’t choose a winner.

Who will win this weekends big Manchester derby?