Manchester City v. Manchester United - Preview

Mancunian rivals Manchester City and Manchester United lock horns for the 132nd time at the City of Manchester Stadium on Sunday afternoon as both sides look to continue their good form and pick up maximum points.

The Red Devils have yet to be defeated in six north-west in the Premiership this season and have netted in each of their previous seven visits to City.

Kevin Keegan has masterminded taking points off top-sides including Arsenal and Chelsea this season, and aim for a repeat in last term's 4-1 demolition of their Red rivals on Sunday.

However, United's impressive tag of 15-unbeaten league games is a clear indication that it's very unlikely City will perform a similar thrashing like last season.

City currently lie 10th in the Premiership and have produced Jekyll and Hyde football throughout the campaign. If results go their way over the weekend, they could move into a more-secure top-half position.

If Chelsea managed to slip up at home to Everton and United claimed a victory, the abyss of a gap would close to a mere 6 points.

On the injury front, Sir Alex Ferguson today confirmed that strikers Alan Smith Ruud van Nistelrooy will resume full-training next week. "Alan Smith starts training on Monday, while Ruud van Nistelrooy starts training on Tuesday,"  

Players have returned from international duty unscathed, meaning Fergie has few injury problems to deal with. Ferguson also revealed players who sat out international week due to injuries will be fine for derby day, revealing: "Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane are OK for Sunday, but Cristiano Ronaldo is certainly doubtful." 

Ferguson also thinks United should be wary of an unpredictable City. "We have lost the last two to City away from home," said Sir Alex. "But our record in derby matches in the 18 years since I came here has been fantastic."

"But derby games are never matches you can be certain of. Sometimes form goes out of the window. Sometimes they are horrible games, sometimes they are great. You have a mixture. You just never know."