The Hard Tackle lists three players whose performances will hold the key in tipping the scales when Manchester United and Manchester City clash on Sunday.
The first Manchester Derby of the 2023/24 season is here. The blockbuster clash has largely been a one-sided affair in the past decade, with spells of Manchester United dominating Manchester City coming few and far between.
As for silverware, there can be no comparison, with Manchester City being far and away the most dominant English club since Sir Alex Ferguson called it a day, winning the treble last season. Meanwhile, Manchester United are yet to win a Premier League title in the past decade while barely managing to win other trophies.
The gulf between the two clubs has widened this season on the Premier League table. While Pep Guardiola’s men have not been the dominant force of recent seasons and came into Gameweek 10 at an uncharacteristic third spot in the standings, Erik ten Hag’s charges are further down after a horrendous start to the campaign.
Nonetheless, the form tends to go out the window when rivals face off. In addition, a few stars can turn the tide with their performances. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle lists three players who might singlehandedly influence the proceedings when Manchester United and Manchester City clash on Sunday.
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford:
"Before we played Liverpool at home early in the season, we weren’t at our best before then but we responded in a big game. We’ll be looking for that type of performance again. If we can get that and get the win, then we’ll be happy.”🤞
pic.twitter.com/OriLKISdm1— 𝗧𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗴’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘀 ✍🏼🇳🇱 (@TenHagBall_) October 28, 2023
Our list begins with a player whose form has spectacularly tumbled in the first two months of the 2023/24 season. That is a stark difference from his exploits from last term when he was a talismanic figure for Manchester United. We are talking about Marcus Rashford.
While Bruno Fernandes will be the creative force for the home side, the Red Devils need Rashford to finally rise to the occasion this weekend. Granted, Erik ten Hag’s system has not done the English international any favours. But some of the blame has to also lie with the player himself.
The 25-year-old has not banked on his ability to take the opposition defenders head-on. That has also reflected in his finishing ability, with the Manchester United attacker failing to find the back of the net with his half-hearted efforts.
But Rashford tends to save his best for the biggest games, as evidenced by his performance against Arsenal. So, if he rises to the occasion, Manchester United might spring a surprise on Manchester City, handing the champions a third successive away defeat in the Premier League.
Julian Alvarez
🕸️ Julián Álvarez, on fire at Manchester City this season…
🏟️ 14 appearances
⚽️ 7 goals
👟 5 assists…and 9 goals in 9 PL games for Erling Haaland, business as usual. 🤖 pic.twitter.com/98wV1BU9S2
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 21, 2023
Our list continues with another attacker. But we have not picked Erling Haaland, whose performance levels have dipped slightly at the onset of the 2023/24 season. Instead, we have gone with his strike partner, who has raised the bar thus far this term. The player in question is Julian Alvarez.
The 23-year-old had an all-time great 2022/23 campaign, winning almost every trophy on the offer, including the World Cup. With Manchester City winning the elusive treble, he has nearly “completed” football, as goes the lingo on social media. Meanwhile, his performances have captured the attention of European bigwigs like Barcelona and Real Madrid.
However, the Argentine international was not content with achieving things on the team level. He has shown thus far this term that he can also take the baton to spearhead the attack, often outshining even Erling Haaland. In addition, Alvarez tends to do better than his strike partner in the biggest game, with Haaland not making his mark on such occasions as much as he would like.
So, Alvarez will again be under the spotlight, with Manchester City looking to blow Manchester United out of the park at Old Trafford. If the Barcelona, Real Madrid target is on song, the visitors will stamp their authority and clinch a morale-boosting away win over their local rivals.
Harry Maguire
Is Harry Maguire changing the narrative? 🤔🔴 pic.twitter.com/luDVsy5XoB
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 29, 2023
The theme changes from attack to defence as we round off our list. But no, we have not picked Raphael Varane or Ruben Dias, the two leaders at the back. Instead, we have gone ahead with a beleaguered star who has been on the path to redemption. The player in question is Harry Maguire.
The English international could not have had a worse summer transfer window. He lost the captain’s armband to Bruno Fernandes, an embarrassing situation in itself. To make matters worse, Manchester United were happy to part ways with him, even at a heavy loss. But he was determined to stay put and fight for his spot.
It took Maguire some time to get into Erik ten Hag’s good books. But fortune favours the brave, as they say, and his “brave” decision to stay at Manchester United has paid off. The experienced defender has produced some solid displays at the back while also scoring the match-winner as Manchester United beat FC Copenhagen this week.
That performance should have considerably boosted his morale, giving him the shot in the arm to become the dominant centre-back he knows he can be for Manchester United. So, while Maguire’s future remains uncertain, he will be focused on the job at hand and help keep a potentially rampaging Manchester City attack at bay.
