Man City aiming for four wins out of four against rivals United

Manchester City’s aggregate score against rivals Manchester United last season was 7-1 in their favour. The season before that it was 4-4, two campaigns ago it was 11-7 again in City’s favour.

One thing these games have is goals. The home side are odds-on 5/6 favourites with Coral to beat Louis van Gaal’s team, which means they would have won four consecutive matches against their fierce rivals. Last season, strikers Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko took it in turns to bag braces against the Red Devils, the former’s coming first at the Etihad. The Argentine, who is currently joint-top Premier League scorer with nine goals this season, is 4/1 to score two or more again, while Dzeko has odds of 7/1 to do the same.

Van Gaal, meanwhile, has recently praised his team’s spirit, after they came from behind to snatch draws against West Brom and then Chelsea. “The most pleasing thing is we are believing in making a goal even when the scoreline is bad,” he said.

Alluding to the game against Chelsea, Van Gaal continued: “The players are running until the 90th minute to equalise or win. Chelsea tried to kill the game but my boys ran and fought until the end and at the end we scored and deserved it.”

Robin van Persie scored with almost the final touch of the game at Old Trafford, as United managed a draw against rampant Chelsea, and is a handsome 2/1 to net anytime. Wayne Rooney, however, could still be an injury doubt for the Red Devils. He scored their solitary goal in the two derby fixtures last season, and if he does regain fitness, is 11/4 to net in the game.

Angel Di Maria has taken the Premier Lague by storm, and has been one of the bright sparks for United this term, since his record-breaking £60m transfer from Real Madrid in the summer. Having netted three and contributed four assists in seven appearances, he is a tasty 10/3 to score anytime.