The 169th Manchester Derby is upon us and who would want to be blue? In recent years Manchester United supporters would look at this fixture more in hope of a win than the expect‎ation of one, and rightly so. But come kick off today it's the blue half of Manchester that find themselves in that boat. It's been a while since United where favourites in the Manchester Derby and some would say it's about time. Ironically they have been in sublime form since their defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup and the Citizens have been in the direct opposite form. I remember fondly how Sir Alex used to say winning the EPL back to back is the most difficult and how he would sell anyone if they come back after winning the league and lost their desire, their passion or their hunger. He was said to be able to see it in the players eyes and that just might be true for this crop of City players.‎‎ What he said:‎ Wayne Rooney : "We want to give United fans something to smile about ...

Arsene Wenger has urged his Arsenal side to maintain their good form when they face Liverpool on Saturday in the early kick-off. Arsenal have won nine of the past 10 matches in the Barclays Premier League and the manager has not given up hope of an unlikely title win, with his side seven points behind Chelsea having played a match more. "We have the aspiration to win the next game and that's quite good enough,” he said. “After that, win the next one. "Whatever is mathematically possible you have to try to achieve but that doesn't depend only on us. What does only depend on us in the final run is our performances and our results, so let's focus on that. "After that if everything goes for us, you never know, but you can only master your own performances so let's focus on that and be realistic and continue to earn the right to win the games. That's what we want. "You know after the international break it's always important that you come ...

Liverpool host rivals Manchester United today and Louis Van Gaal(LVG) will have his first taste of Anfield in what he termed back in December - this fixture is like El Clasico. ‎Brendan Rodgers’ side are in the in-form team, winning their last five English Premier League(EPL) games. In fact the last time they lost in the EPL was back in December at the hands of the visitors. In contrast United record reads three defeats in 24 games that at any other club would be more than acceptable form but at Manchester United that's just not good enough. And last week's 3-0 win against Tottenham was what most of the United faithful want to believe is there side having turned the corner. ‎ Match Stats *Liverpool could match the longest unbeaten run this season of 14 games a feat Chelsea hold. ‎ *United away have lost just once in nine in the EPL with 4 wins and 4 draws.‎ *At Anfiled Liverpool haven't lost in 14 games with 7 wins and 7 draws. *United hold the record of t...

Manchester United host a rejuvenated Gunners outfit that has a quite appalling record at The Theatre Of Dreams. They've played ten, lost nine and drawn one since they last beat United in 2006 and you would have to go back 12 years for the last time they defeated a United team in a cup competition. That said they are well overdue a win there and Louis Van Gaal (LVG) would hope that doesn't happen today. The Arsenal boss said on Friday he is not one to dwell on history, only the game in front of him, but even though this United side are far from what they used to be, any team with such a record will find it mentally tough to bet against such numbers. Especially because even with such uncharacteristic, some say bordering on boring, United play they still find themselves fourth in the English Premier League (EPL), and win more often than not at home. In the EPL only Chelsea have a better home record this term than LVG's men and they have just dropped 8 points in 14 matches (2 ...

However badly SA played in crashing to India by 130 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday - and badly is putting it kindly - there was no faulting AB de Villiers' willingness to take the disappointment on the chin. Article sourced from the Times Live website. "We were outplayed," De Villiers said in an assessment that was as scattered as it was comprehensive and excoriating. And so it should have been: he was talking about SA's biggest World Cup loss in terms of runs. "All round, it was a pretty average performance by the bowlers," he said. "India's bowling was quite clever but it was definitely a poor batting performance [by SA]. "I almost don't want to think about it now. I just want to go feel sad in my room for now. But tomorrow we'll talk about it. "You never want to lose by 130 runs. Your confidence takes a knock. It's up to the senior players to keep the confidence up against West Indies [who SA play i...

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal (LVG) says the United vs Liverpool fixture is much like El Clasico, something LVG had the pleasure of experiencing in Spain. Under fire Brendan Rodgers Liverpool (LFC) visits Old Trafford tomorrow and some would say it is his most important fixture as boss. A loss at Old Trafford could edge him closer to the expected exit door. The Manchester United website reports: “It is like that, of course,” van Gaal told reporters at the Aon Training Complex, when asked about this fixture’s similarity to El Clasico. “Barcelona versus Real Madrid was [in front of] 102,000 in the first time I was working there. The stadium adapted to 102,000 and they were all sitting there. I won my first derby with Barcelona 3-0, so I was very pleased. I hope that I shall win this first derby also.” United would potentially extend their winning run to 6 in a row should they defeat their old foes and LVG is refusing to dismiss the possibility of catching the English Premier ...

Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud, Danny Welbeck, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, Angel Di Maria, Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, David De Gea, Radamel Falcao, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini, Antonio Valencia, Adnan Januzaj with names like these in your squad both Arsenal & Manchester United would be expected to be slugging it out at the summit but find themselves well off the pace already this season. You will not see a defender above and that speaks volumes. Together these two have conceded 36 goals thus far and if you consider that leaders Chelsea and  Southampton together haven only conceded 16 it explains why the Gunners and the Reds find themselves  sixth and seventh on the table. Going forward Wenger side have somewhat been riding the Sanchez wave, I mean the Chilean has now scored 8 in his last 6 for club and country and will definitely trouble any defence United paste together. Van Gaal wi...