Big. Huge. Game. It’s here – the Manchester derby, the title decider already billed as the biggest clash in the twenty year history of the Premier League. How’s that for hype? Can tonight’s Etihad clash really measure up? We have our Dugout Discussion chatroom open to catch all the excitement, or lack of, as it unfolds.
The team news perhaps already tells a tale. City, content with their recent outstanding form, go with an unchanged lineup which means no place for Micah Richards who returns to the bench alongside Mario Balotelli, straining at the leash.
Sir Alex Ferguson, perhaps going all out to avoid defeat, shuffles the pack with Antonio Valencia and Danny Welbeck benched for the experience of Ryan Giggs and the industry of Ji-Sung Park. Phil Jones replaces the loose cannon that is Rafael at right-back, while Chris Smalling is called in to partner Rio Ferdinand. Those reports on Jonny Evans’ injury seemingly checking out, then, as United’s rock in recent weeks is kept sidelined.
