Manchester City's Season Faces Make-or-Break Point in Massive Derby Clash

Manchester City will look to bust out of a bit of a slump on Sunday as they play host to Manchester United.

The Premier League champions have slipped to third in the table, trailing Chelsea as well as surprise package Southampton, while they also sit third in their UEFA Champions League group.

City have now dropped consecutive domestic fixtures—including the shocking League Cup exit at the hands of Newcastle United on Wednesday—after a disappointing draw in Moscow.

Their deficit in the league table sits at six points, though their place in third is far better than at this point last season, when they had one fewer point and were seventh. But with Chelsea looking nigh on unbeatable and the Saints running rampant, something needs to change quickly.

A massive derby ought to do the trick.

City have owned the Manchester derby in recent years, winning five of the last six league clashes including the famous 6-1 win at Old Trafford just over three years ago. This also includes sweeping the pair of matches last season by a combined 7-1 scoreline.

United have themselves been struggling for form recently, dropping points to West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea in their last two league fixtures. They currently find themselves in eighth, some 10 points behind the leaders but just a single point behind Arsenal in fifth.

If City are to turn around their recent run of form, then perhaps a home match against a hated rival—one who also happens to be down on form—is just what the doctor ordered. But to get the result they need, they'll have to do it without one of their most important players in David Silva.

As B/R's Rob Pollard noted, the Spaniard was curiously selected for the League Cup tie with Newcastle, but was forced off inside 10 minutes through injury.

Having won the trophy last season, Manuel Pellegrini surely wanted to repeat the feat, which might well explain the stronger-than-expected XI he fielded. But the risk didn't pay off, as not only did they get dumped out at home, they also lost their talisman in the process.

Per the manager's Friday presser, Silva is set to miss multiple weeks with a knee issue:

"

PRESS CONFERENCE: Manuel Pellegrini confirms that @21lva will miss Sunday's game. Will be out for 3-4 weeks. #mcfc #cityvunited

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) October 31, 2014"

This also rules him out of CSKA Moscow's visit to the Etihad next week. Even with Samir Nasri now available for selection after his injury layoff, the absence of Silva may prove difficult to cope with.

The 28-year-old is the spark, the magician, the little man who makes things click for City. In a time when the club is struggling to hit its best, losing the creative centerpiece is the last thing they could've needed.

Pellegrini is seemingly less pessimistic about the situation:

"

PELLEGRINI: “David is a very important player but we have a squad and we will have to replace him with another player.” #cityvunited

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) October 31, 2014"

But a player of Silva's quality can't simply be replaced by another player. Nasri and Yaya Toure will have a huge load on their shoulders to help pick up the slack in terms of fashioning attacking chances. With Nasri only just back to fitness and Toure still not his Ballon d'Or-nominated self, can they get it done?

On United's side of the coin, Louis van Gaal confirmed that Wayne Rooney will return to his team's setup now that his suspension has ended:

"

"He shall play, he is my captain." - Louis van Gaal on Wayne Rooney for the Manchester derby. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/h5m8m3A7Ac

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) October 31, 2014"

Given City's inconsistent defensive showings, this may come as a worry for Pellegrini.

In any case, now is the time for City to light a spark under an up-and-down season to muster up a title defense. With Chelsea playing on Saturday, the gap between the champions and the leaders could swell to as high as nine points before the derby kicks off.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Something has to change quickly in order to salvage the season. A loss not only hits hard due to the rivalry and the implications on the table, but it produces even more negative momentum ahead of the must-win CSKA match.

The derby hasn't had this much riding on it since the April 2012 showdown at the Etihad. That ended in a 1-0 City win, with Vincent Kompany thunderously heading past David de Gea as his side turned around the eight-point gap to march to a first league title in over 40 years.

The boys in blue might need something similar if they hope to retain their Premier League crown.

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