The 148th competitive Manchester derby, 137th in the league and 21st in the Premier League is the most eagerly anticipated in years.
It throws up a tactical battle between the most recently appointed Premier League manager in the Sven-Goran Eriksson and the longest serving in Sir Alex Ferguson.
City have made their best start ever to a Premier League season, and United their worst since 1998. Indeed the Red Devils have not won a league game since the last Manchester derby at Eastlands on 5 May.
In beating West Ham (a) and Derby (h), City have a tremendous platform to improve of their previous best of seven points from the first three games of a Premier League campaign.
Despite being held at home by Reading and away to Portsmouth, and being four points behind Chelsea, there is no panic at Old Trafford. In 1998, they famously went on from a poor start to clinch the Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League treble.
City are superior to United by four points and 10 places in the embryonic Premier League table. They last went into a derby clash higher in the table than their deadly rivals on 10 September 2005 at Old Trafford when they were second and United fourth, and the spoils were shared in a 1-1 draw.
City scored their first home goal since New Years Day on Wednesday, while Paul Scholes' historic strike at Portsmouth was United's first from open play in five Premier League matches since 28 April.
MANCHESTER CITY
1. Their previous best points tally from the first two matches of a Premier League season was four, achieved in 2003 and 2005.
2. Won only one of the first five league games last season.
3. Wednesday's maximum over Derby, ended an eight-match winless league streak at the City of Manchester Stadium.
4. The only club yet to concede a goal in this season's Premier League campaign.
5. One of seven clubs with maximum points in this league, and one of three with six points out of six; the others are Everton and Chelsea.
6. A trip to Arsenal follows this.
MANCHESTER UNITED
1. Won 13 times away from home in winning their ninth Premier League crown last season.
2. If this match is drawn, it will take United to within one of their tally of away league draws for the whole of the last campaign (three).
3. Won 14 of the first 17 league matches last season, including the first four.
4. Lost only one of the first 17 league games last term.
4. Vying for a first victory in five league outings.
5. Drawn three and lost one in the Premier League, since beating Manchester City 1-0 on 5 May.
6. Won four and lost just one of the last seven away games in this league.
7. Picked up eight points from a last available 12 on the road.
8. Failed to score in one of the last 11 matches on their Premier League travels; 0-0 against Chelsea on 9 May.
MANCHESTER CITY
Ins and Outs
Rolando BIANCHI, GEOVANNI and Michael JOHNSON have each scored one of City's three goals to date.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Ins and Outs
Paul SCHOLES has netted United's only Premier League goal so far. His strike at Portsmouth gave him the record outright as Manchester United's highest scorer of Premier League goals. He has netted 96, beating Ruud van Nistelrooy's total of 95. Ryan GIGGS has scored 93 times in the Premier League.
GIGGS is a double short of 100 career League goals.
If on the field from the outset:-
Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premier League start - all for the Red Devils.
John O'SHEA will be making his 200th start for Manchester United.
Suspended:-
RONALDO (three matches)
HEAD TO HEAD
The winner of the Manchester league derby at City has alternated in the last four years. The Citizens must win this time if that pattern is to continue.
United have won four times as many Manchester Premier League derbies as City.
The Red Devils completed the double over their rivals last season.
Home and awayLeague (inc PL):
Man City 35 wins, Man Utd 53, Draws 48
Prem: Man City 3 wins, Man Utd 12, Draws 5
at Man City onlyLeague (inc PL):
Man City 21 wins, Man Utd 24, Draws 23
Prem: Man City 3 wins, Man Utd 6, Draws 1
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United5 May 2007 - Ref: Rob StylesMan Utd scorer: Ronaldo 34 pen
REFEREE
Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
After reading these information, what is your score prediction of this match?
Source - BBC Sport
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