There are only two Premier League matches taking place on Sunday, but it promises to be an informative afternoon with plenty at stake at both ends of the table.
A Manchester derby from the Etihad takes centre stage and City are out to enhance their title hopes, while United can ill-afford any slip-ups in their quest to finish in the Champions League qualification places.
Arsenal are one of the side’s breathing down the Red Devils’ neck for fourth-spot and they get Sunday’s proceedings started with a trip to Watford, who are embroiled in a relegation scrap.
United can cause City plenty of problems
To the surprise of many, Manchester United have a decent recent record against their noisy neighbours, having won on each of their last three trips to the Etihad.
United have been able to soak up the pressure and utilise their pace on the break in wide areas to get the better of their city rivals, and in Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga they have the weapons to cause similar problems.
Pep Guardiola’s side fell victim to those strategies against Tottenham in their last home game, losing 3-2 despite winning the shot count 21-6 and enjoying 72 per cent possession.
City were then frustrated by Everton for 81 minutes until a Michael Keane mistake allowed Phil Foden to slot home and earn them a valuable 1-0 win at Goodison Park.
Guardiola’s gang also took until the hour mark to break the deadlock in Tuesday’s 2-0 FA Cup triumph at Championship strugglers Peterborough, hinting that performance levels may have dropped for the meantime.
City will dominate possession and an early blow could see them run riot, but if United stand strong then this may become a more even contest than you’d expect.
The Citizens have been level at the break in each of their last three games and even in recent wins over Brentford and Norwich they took until the 40th and 31st minutes to open the scoring.
With that in mind, there could be some juice in backing a draw at half-time at 29/20, but the 11/10 on offer about no goal before the 30th minute is ultimately where the best value lies.
Each of the last six rivalries have rewarded under 2.5 goal backers and, given the way the teams are likely to be set-up, that is also worthy of consideration at 27/20.
The pressure from the home side could ultimately tell, but United have lost only one of their last 20 games in normal time and are no strangers to weathering the storm.
Arsenal should outgun shot-shy Hornets
Arsenal have won seven of their last nine Premier League contests to put themselves firmly in the top-four reckoning and they are 5/9 to continue their hot streak at Watford.
The Hornets defended valiantly in last weekend’s 0-0 draw against United at Old Trafford and have looked more assured at the back ever since appointing Roy Hodgson as manager.
However, better organisation has blunted them in forward areas and they have now scored only two goals in their last seven league matches.
Watford have also suffered seven league losses on the spin at Vicarage Road, so must be fearing the worst against a fired-up Arsenal outfit chasing a fourth straight success.
Each of Arsenal’s last three wins have been by a single goal, though, so they are unlikely to cut loose and punters considering a bet should opt for the Gunners to win & under 3.5 goals at 1/1.
*All odds correct at time of writing
