Man City vs. Man United: Key Issues & Decisions That Will Shape Manchester Derby
When Robin van Persie scored a late winner for Manchester United against Manchester City in December 2012, it sent shock waves around the Etihad Stadium and stunned the millions watching on TV.
The Red Devils will be hoping for a repeat performance of that contest as they visit their most local of rivals on Sunday afternoon.
United surprised many with their strength against an imperious Chelsea team recently, and the signs for the future look promising.
But a trip to Eastlands may have come too soon for Louis van Gaal's team, as transition rips through the heart of the football club.
Here, we take a look at the key issues that will shape this pulsating Manchester derby.
David Silva Fitness Race
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Manchester United's task will be all the easier if David Silva does not recover in time from the injury that cut short his involvement against Newcastle in the Capital One Cup.
The little Spaniard has so far been in excellent form this season, and Manchester City need him to pick the Red Devils' lock.
David Anderson of the Daily Mirror reported the diminutive attacker will miss the derby match. Silva fears he'll be out for three weeks.
It will be a bitter blow to the champions—Silva is arguably the one player who has no equal in the Etihad squad.
Yaya Toure has been in indifferent form since the World Cup, so Manuel Pellegrini will be praying his star midfielder is available.
However, if Silva does not make the match, it will be a fantastic opportunity for Samir Nasri to stake his claim after returning from his own enforced layoff.
The Return of Wayne Rooney
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Wayne Rooney will be somewhat pleased with how his three-match ban went for him—with United showing how badly they missed his usual contribution.
For all of Rooney's weaknesses, his dogged hard work and goals and assists production were evidently missing during his recent absence.
He is now available for the derby, and Louis van Gaal confirmed that he would start, per BBC Sport.
LvG has the option of playing his captain up front with Robin van Persie, but it is likely we will see him operate in the hole, where his industry can help the defensive cause against Yaya Toure and company.
Can United Deal with Sergio Aguero?
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At 26 years old, Sergio Aguero is just about to come into his prime.
And the Argentina hitman already has exceeded double figures in goals for the season in a Manchester City shirt—and Halloween is not even yet a distant memory.
Aguero has scored 11 times in 12 Premier League and European competition matches already, per WhoScored.com, proving he is one of the world's most potent strikers.
There is little doubt that City are a better team with him leading the line, and his pace will scare the life out of United's fumbling back line.
Aguero's movement will cause the Reds a host of problems, and Louis van Gaal will need to see his side produce their best performance of the season to stop the little Argentine genius.
Louis Van Gaal to Continue with 4-1-4-1?
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Louis van Gaal has been searching for a tactical formula for his Manchester United side since day one of his tenure, and in the last two games he has opted for a 4-1-4-1 system.
The tactic allows LvG to have genuine width in his team but also have the numbers to counter-attack effectively.
The fitness concerns of Ander Herrera and Radamel Falcao may also have forced the manager's hand in trying yet another formation, but against Chelsea the Red Devils players employed it well.
The 4-1-4-1 will also allow Wayne Rooney and the improving Marouane Fellaini to be in their preferred deeper attacking roles that both players enjoy, leaving Robin van Persie to perform the lone striker function.
The bigger question for LvG will be whether to pick Adnan Januzaj for such a match, where defensive knowledge will be key for the Red Devils.
Herrera could return in the teenager's place if Van Gaal opts to pack the midfield and sacrifice his width.
Is Marouane Fellaini a Flash in the Pan?
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Two rather good games...and the world has gone crazy for Marouane Fellaini.
But yes, he did help United rescue a point from the jaws of defeat against West Brom and Chelsea, and he put Cesc Fabregas well and truly in his place by outclassing and bullying him.
Fellaini's explosion in form has been a surprise to most United fans, but he has now given Louis van Gaal a very useful additional option.
Juan Mata has flattered to deceive in the attacking midfield role, affording Fellaini the opportunity to do what he did so effectively once upon a time for Everton.
Fellaini showed against Chelsea he is not the immobile lump many thought he was. He closed down a brilliant Blues midfield with regular ease and helped get United moving forward.
Discipline will be the name of the game against City, as it was against Jose Mourinho's men, so the derby will be an excellent test to see if Fellaini really has a United future.
Angel Di Maria to Lead the Counter-Attack to Success?
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United have two ways of getting a positive result against their neighbours on Sunday.
Firstly, they must counter-attack. City are very much the stronger outfit, and they will want to dictate possession and control the scoreline from the first kick of the ball.
And secondly, Angel Di Maria must be at his world-class best.
ADM looked somewhat jaded against Chelsea after a string of wonderful performances for the Red Devils—but it was still he who won the free-kick for Robin van Persie's dramatic equaliser—and he delivered the set piece to perfection.
City's current form is sketchy at best because their defence is in transition. The introduction of Eliaquim Mangala will eventually strengthen their backbone, but at the moment there clearly is communication issues between the French international and Vincent Kompany.
This is where Di Maria comes in: He can run the City defence ragged and deliver United their most prized result of the Van Gaal era.
United will have to be resolute when they do not have the ball. But when they steal it from the opposition, the attack must be swift and ruthless.
If they do this successfully, the most unlikely of results could happen.
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