Manchester United vs. Manchester City: Premier League betting odds, preview, and pick

Whether you are on the blue side or the red side of Manchester, you can guarantee the Derby is the game that gets circled on the calendar every year.

The two fierce city rivals have had a long and storied history, with the momentum shifting in the last decade, as City have won three of the last four titles and finished above United every season since 2012-13.

Manchester United stop the rot

Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in London last week was quite incredible for several reasons. Not only did it potentially save Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s job, but it also cost Nuno Espirito Santo his gig as Spurs coach.

Now the Spurs have hired Antonio Conte — the man who seven days ago was tipped to take the Man United job!

That 3-0 win ended a run of four league games without a victory for Solskjaer’s team and gave them their first clean sheet in the topflight since August. It has eased the pressure on the coach for now, but that could easily ramp up again, if they were to be beaten by City.

Pep Guardiola would have been rubbing his hands together with glee watching Liverpool dismantle Man United 5-0 at Old Trafford, but United have won three and drawn one of the last four derby games in the league.

Only three sides have conceded more goals at home than United this season, which will have fans really concerned as the noisy neighbors come across town.

Ignore Guardiola’s mini slump

Let’s park Manchester City’s seven days from hell — it was Halloween after all.

They crashed out of the League Cup against West Ham and then lost at home to Crystal Palace 2-0 at the weekend, but Guardiola’s squad is too talented not to get back on track in a big way.

That defeat to Palace was the first time City have lost since the opening day of the season. That was a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham, in a game City dominated but couldn’t find the net.

Don’t let that last league result impact your judgement, because this is the same Man City team that hammered Arsenal 5-0, beat Leicester and Chelsea away from home, and drew 2-2 with Liverpool at Anfield.

City average two goals a game this season, and Chelsea are the only side who have conceded fewer goals than Guardiola’s side.

Liverpool are the only side who have averaged more shots per game than City (17.9), while the Citizens allow just 6.7 shots a game to the opposition, by far the lowest tally in the league.

This team is favored to win the title for good reason.

Manchester United and Manchester City betting trends

• There have been Under 2.5 goals in six of the last eight matches between these sides
• In the last five Manchester Derby games, at least one team has failed to score
• Manchester City have kept a clean sheet in 60% of Premier League games this season
• The last time Manchester City scored a league goal against Manchester United was December 2019
• Last season, Manchester United won 0.63 points per game more when playing away from home. This season that figure is 0.60
• There have been three penalties awarded in the last six Manchester Derby games

Manchester is Blue

Manchester City are worthy favorites to win their first Manchester Derby game in the Premier League in two years.

Guardiola’s team could be accused of taking their eye off the ball, as Palace stung them last week, but this Saturday there will be a different level of intensity.

United have shown numerous times this season how vulnerable they can be, with Liverpool scoring five and Leicester scoring four against them last month. That’s a big concern when Gabriel Jesus, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling, and more are running at you.

The Red Devils set up with a more defensive formation against Tottenham, but even still the same mistakes lurk within them.

Traditionally, this game hasn’t thrown up many goals in recent years, so sticking with Under 2.5 goals and a City win is a smart play.

There have been three penalties in the last six Manchester derbies, which increases the appeal of Kevin De Bruyne to score.

Score prediction: Manchester United 0-2 Manchester City (+800)

Manchester United vs. Manchester City pick: Manchester City to win to nil (+235)

Same Game Combo: Manchester City to win, Under 2.5 goals, Kevin De Bruyne to score (+1700)