Manchester United and Manchester City are gearing up for one of their biggest clashes of the season. The two sides have gotten off to perfect starts in the new Premier League season with three wins each, but that winning streak will definitely be broken come Saturday.
Two of the most expensively assembled squads clash head to head, as old rivals Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola re-ignite their rivalry in a new country and a new league. Both of the star studded teams will be looking at one of their big players to fire on this momentous occasion.
We take a look at three of the key clashes between players on the pitch that could end up deciding the Manchester derby.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs John Stones
The Swedish icon has gotten off to a flying start in the Premier League, scoring three goals in three games for Manchester United. His physical attributes are definitely not diminishing with age, as the 35-year-old continues to be excellent at holding the ball up and bullying opposition defenders.
The big Swede now comes up against one of England’s most highly rated young defensive prospects. 22-year-old John Stones, like Zlatan, arrived at Manchester this summer. The young Englishman commanded a reported transfer fee of £47 million, making him the most expensive English defender of all time.
Stones has quickly gone about trying to live up to the price tag, averaging 3.7 clearances per game and making 59.7 passes per game at a success rate of 91.6% [Stats via: Whoscored]. It looks like Guardiola has found the ball-playing defender he was looking for, but it will be his defensive credentials that are put to the test against Zlatan.
Paul Pogba vs Kevin de Bruyne
They are two of the most highly rated young midfielders in the world today, and Paul Pogba and Kevin de Bruyne will be involved in many key midfield battles in the Manchester derby.
The 25-year-old Belgian is the chief play-maker for Manchester City, and will be at the heart of most of their attacks. Pogba is a similar attacking threat, but is usually positioned in a deeper role, meaning that the duo will be at close proximity to each other through most of the game.
The 23-year-old Frenchman is not only a masterful player with excellent shooting, but also a tough tackling central midfielder. This is an area where de Bruyne isn’t on par with Pogba, and he will be looking to beat the latter with skill and pace rather than physicality.
Both of them can turn the match on it’s head if they get going, and they are going to be the two players to watch out for in midfield.
Raheem Sterling vs Eric Bailly
The absence of Sergio Aguero poses a big problem to Man City manager Pep Guardiola. 19-year-old Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho is expected to start in a like-for-like swap, but either one of left winger Raheem Sterling or right winger Nolito could start in the central position as well.
Regardless of where he plays, Raheem Sterling will be one of the most potent attacking threats for City in the absence of Aguero. He’s already notched up two goals and an assist in the Premier League this season, and looks reinvigorated under Pep Guardiola after scoring just six goals and making two assists in his debut season in the Premier League for City.
However, the pacy young Englishman will come up against Manchester United’s new defensive mainstay Eric Bailly. The 22-year-old Ivorian has proved tough to break down and it will be intriguing to see if he can handle 21-year-old Sterling’s pace when he cuts in from the wing.
Antonio Valencia is not expected to start at right-back, after arriving late from international duty. This could prove to be a break for either Matteo Darmian or Tim Fosu-Mensah to play at right-back, while Luke Shaw continues at left-back. Given that the full-backs will be on the look out to get forward, Bailly will be the one most likely left to deal with Sterling’s threat in the United third.
