The Manchester derby: United need to win, or draw, or at least play with pattern and conviction in Michael Carrick’s first game in this unforeseen interim role; City need to win, a requirement lost a little in the avalanche of United chat.
United approach the Saturday lunchtime kick-off in seventh place in the Premier League, three points off fourth. They have just been ushered out of the FA Cup by an understrength Brighton, following a 2-2 draw at Burnley. It was United’s third draw in a row in the league, the first two coming under Ruben Amorim. His explosive rant against the hierarchy meant he had to go. Darren Fletcher stepped in, now it’s Carrick. Yeah, a quiet Christmas.
City have also drawn three in a row in the league. It has left them six points behind Arsenal. City cannot afford to drop further behind by the time they host the Gunners in mid-April. There are only five games after that.
So there is a lot on the line at Old Trafford and, as ever, it feels as if
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