It has been a slow start to the Premier League season for both Manchester clubs. Title hopefuls Manchester City have just three points through three matches, while Manchester United have only four points. This is a massive derby matchup at Old Trafford with both clubs in need of a win.
Manchester City are a small favorite for this contest on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here is a preview, prediction and pick for the Manchester Derby.
Manchester City vs. Manchester United prediction, preview
Manchester City
Manchester City had their streak of four straight Premier League championships broken by Liverpool last season. They have been the best club in England over the past decade, but they seem to be sliding in the wrong direction. After a third-place finish last season, they sit in 16th place in the Premier League heading into this match. Of course, it’s quite early, but there are concerning signs for City. After an easy opening win over Wolves, they have struggled in their past two matches. They lost 2-0 at home against Tottenham and 2-1 against Brighton. Unless Erling Haaland goes full Terminator mode, they have struggled to create goals. They have a slew of new pieces this season, such as Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Nico Gonzalez. While these players are talented and have shown tremendous potential, they are not quite clicking at the level of the old Manchester City teams yet.
Manchester United
It has been a disastrous past few seasons at Manchester United. In fact, ever since Sir Alex Ferguson departed the club, Manchester United have struggled to find any stability. Current manager Ruben Amorim has not been able to get his system working in Manchester yet. Under Amorim, United have won just 16 of their 45 matches. That 35.56% winning percentage is the worst for a Manchester United manager since 1958. United have already been knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Grimsby Town in one of the biggest upsets in English Football League history. They did notch a win against Burnley before the international break on a late penalty from Bruno Fernandes. New forward players Bryan Mbuemo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko have the chance to be a dynamic group if Amorim can get his team clicking. This will be a massive showcase for United to show what they are capable of this season.
Manchester City vs. Manchester United pick, best bet
The Manchester Derby is always a battle between these two great clubs. In the last five Premier League matchups between the two sides, Manchester City have two wins, Manchester United have two wins and the fifth match was a draw. Both of these clubs are in a tough place with their early season struggles, so they will be desperate for a positive result in this match. My best bet is for Manchester United to cover the spread of 0.5 goals. Despite their struggles last season, United went to the Etihad and came away with a win. While both teams have new pieces that they are trying to get to gel, the United midfield, led by Bruno Fernandes, has much more experience in these derby matches which require their own kind of intensity. This should be a lower-scoring match, allowing United to steal at least a point in front of their own supporters.
