Manchester United’s season has been a tale of two halves so far. They struggled in the first half of the season as they were marred by injuries and missed several key players. They lacked a definitive style of play and looked out of sorts in the initial stages of the season.
However, since the turn of the year, there has been an upswing in the team’s performances and fortunes. They seem to have found some cohesion in how they play and look much more like a team. In the eight games that United have played so far this year in all competitions, they have won seven, with their only defeat coming in the recent home game against Fulham last week.
However, the Red Devils proved that the result was an aberration by returning to winning ways in the FA Cup Pre–Quarterfinal game against Nottingham Forest in midweek.
Now, their progress faces its biggest test yet when they take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. United go into the game as the underdogs with City firing on all cylinders. The Cityzens smashed 6 goals past Luton Town in the midweek FA Cup game and will be looking to carry on their form against their cross-town rivals.
The United defence will have their hands full trying to stop Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland who managed a hattrick of assists and five goals against Luton Town in midweek. This is easier said than done for a team that has several key defenders out with injury. In attack, United will have to find a way to cope without Rasmus Højlund who is set to miss this game as well through injury. In his absence, United struggled to find a way to goal against Fulham and chances are that history might repeat itself against City.
Simply put, the game against City will be a test of how far United have come in the recent past and will tell us whether United are contenders or pretenders for a top-4 spot in the Premier League.
Image Courtesy- Goal.com
