MADRID, 13 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Manchester City receives Manchester United this Sunday (5:30 p.m.) in a derby to which both teams arrive in need, with the ‘Red Devils’ far from Europe and Pep Guardiola’s men going through their worst crisis in years and with no margin if they want to recover ground with the leadership that Liverpool maintains that must return to the path of victory against Fulham, on matchday 16 of the 2024-2025 Premier League.
The ‘citizens’ cannot fail any more if they want to rejoin the fight for the title, now eight points behind the leader Liverpool, this one with one game less. Guardiola, in a team plagued by casualties and without the essential Rodri Hernández, still cannot find the key for the team this season, in its weakest and most fragile version, with 21 goals conceded and only 27 in favor – he scored 96 last season – in the first 15 games.
Only one win in Manchester City’s last 10 official matches reflects the magnitude of the crisis of a team that is beginning to enter into despair and anxiety. Therefore, winning the Manchester Derby would be hitting the table and starting to build their recovery with a prestigious victory.
The last two meetings between both teams were to define titles: in May, the FA Cup with the ‘Red Devils’ triumph, and in August, the Community Shield won by the ‘skyblues’. Now, United cannot leave many points if they want to return to the top zone, after the Ruben Amorim effect has evaporated in recent weeks with the defeats in the last two days against Arsenal (2-0) and Forest ( 2-3).
Those of the Portuguese coach, thirteenth (19) six points from the European places, have not assaulted the Etihad in Premier since March 2021, winning only four of their last 11 visits to the ‘citizen’ fiefdom and suffering painful defeats such as a 6-3 and two 4-1. On this occasion, the ‘Red Devils’ only have the loss of Luke Shaw in defense.
After not playing the Merseyside derby against Everton last week due to a storm and winning by the minimum (0-1) against Girona in the Champions League, Liverpool returns to the Premier and receives Fulham at Anfield, where They have only lost one game in their last 13, in the month of September – they have nine wins at home.
Puncture against a Fulham that scratched a draw against Arsenal a week ago and has only lost one of its last seven games would give wings to a Chelsea that is launched and that is, with one more game, just four points behind the ‘reds’. Enzo Maresca’s men, launched in the last month and a half – they have not lost in the Premier since October 20 – with four consecutive wins in the League, receive a Brentford in good momentum that aspires to Europe and has not lost at Stanford Brigde.
This Saturday there will also be a Newcastle-Leicester in which the ‘Magpies’ want to rediscover victory after fourth games without a win and falling worryingly in the table very far from Europe, while Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester have had two games in a row without losing. This weekend Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal cannot lose pace either, as they host an Everton in danger with the aim of staying close to the lead and forgetting about the unexpected draw against Fulham.
–SCHEDULES FOR DAY 16 OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE:
-Saturday December 14.
Arsenal – Everton 16.00.
Liverpool – Fulham 16.00.
Newcastle – Leicester 16.00.
Wolves – Ipswich16.00.
Nottingham Forest – Aston Villa18.30.
-Domingo 15.
Brighton – Crystal Palace15.00.
Manchester City – Manchester United 17.30
Chelsea – Brentford20.00.
Southampton – Tottenham 20.00.
-Monday 16.
Bournemouth – West Ham21.00.