Man City v Man Utd tips: Mourinho to work his magic and delay City title win

Manchester City welcome city neighbours Manchester United to the Etihad Stadium in a Premier League clash of monumental proportions.

If City manage to win the evening kick-off, they will be crowned champions in front of their bitter rivals. The stakes don’t get much higher.

The home side are 20/23, with United at 16/5. And you can back the draw at 13/5.

There are few people in football who enjoy spoiling a party more than Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese tactician will love having the opportunity to thwart City’s title charge.

Think back to the infamous Liverpool v Chelsea game at Anfield in 2014. His injury-depleted Blues side effectively ended the Reds title hopes with a shock 2-0 win on Merseyside.

While this Man City team are arguably operating at a higher level – and will win the league – preparations for this game have not been ideal.

Pep Guardiola’s side were humbled 3-0 at Anfield in the Champions League in midweek. The Citizens put in an insipid display just when it mattered. Their younger players looked like the occasion got to them.

How they react now will be intriguing. And what will Guardiola do regarding team selection – does he rest a number of key players for the second leg against the Reds next Wednesday?

There are a number of variables to consider that would not normally be the case. And Mourinho will thrive off of any indecision.

However, City have won 14 home games in a row at Eastlands. And that’s a record that can’t be sniffed at. But United are having a purple patch of their own, winning four games on the bounce.

Mourinho’s must-not-lose mentality in big games is usually a bore, but this is one of those times it could bear fruit. The away side are 19/20 on the Double Chance market.

These big games are usually tight and the two best defences in the league meet. Under 2.5 Goals is even-money.

Both outfits are in reasonably decent health. Sergio Aguero could come back into the City side after missing the midweek defeat to Liverpool. United will only be without Daley Blind and Phil Jones.

Romelu Lukaku can be a bit streaky, but he’s currently in great form. The Belgian striker has seven goals in his last seven games. He’s 9/4 to bag Anytime.

Aguero is likely to start up top for City in place of Gabriel Jesus who had a torrid time at Anfield. The Argentine ace loves a big game and is priced at 11/10 to find the net Anytime.

Click here for more Man City v Man Utd odds

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing