Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown
Match of they Day

"This Chelsea side is one of the best teams we've ever seen in the Premier League. They are almost perfection."

So will Manchester City's title bid be over if they lose today? Robbie Savage thinks it would be "all but finished", and looking at the table it would certainly be a tough ask, even at this stage of the season.

Lose and they would be nine points behind leaders Chelsea, and with the Blues winning even when not playing well on Saturday, it would take an impressive run of form from any of the challengers to knock Jose Mourinho's side off their perch.

Image source, Getty Images

Russell Luke Parsons:, external Have Manchester United ever fielded a weaker back four in the Premier League? Although I do remember David May getting the odd game...

Peter Malath:, external People are worrying about our defence but seeing Demichelis start for City makes me salivate, and I am not even playing.

ScoopeX:, external Today's shocking football fact is that there is not one Manchester-born player in today's local derby.

That's David May single-handedly winning the European Cup there Russell...

Yaya Toure appears to be wincing as he goes through a few stretches in his warm-up. Is he carrying a knock? Or does he just not like moving around too much at the moment...?

John: Big, BIG game for Adnan Januzaj this afternoon. Louis van Gaal has put a great deal of faith in him by selecting him, time for him to deliver on the big stage.

Bill Wilson, Southampton: Surprised you are giving so much airtime to a match between two of the also-rans!

Paul R: Re: Comment at 12:09. I met my favourite player Pablo Zabaleta on holiday in Spain a few years ago and he was the perfect gent despite me being all star-struck. He just chatted easily asked about our families and his hopes for the next season (Mark Hughes got the chop). Top bloke.

Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler
Football Focus

"Wayne Rooney is a phenomenal player. His record against Manchester City is the highest of any player in Manchester derbies, so he's going to be there or thereabouts in terms of getting on the scoresheet.

"He's a player who is going to come back and help United get a result. But I think City are a class side."

Meg West:, external Reckon it's gonna be a high-scoring match today. 4-3 or 5-3 either way...

Abdul Said:, external Everyone expects a high-scoring match and I agree. It will be you score we equalise, you score again we do the same. 4-4 perhaps.

Eyobel Gomini, external: City look more balanced! Di Maria and Januzaj should produce a great performance and Fellaini should be tactically disciplined!

United are well clear - amassing 68 wins to City's 48 - but it has not always been the case.

At the start of the Premier League era, United's advantage over City was far narrower at 45 wins to 36.

Check out the rest of our Derby Day A-Z here.

Ryan Giggs is very much involved in the warm-ups at a very quiet Etihad. Forty minutes from kick-off and 90% of the fans remain in the bars. A few pre-match looseners required this afternoon?

Image source, @MCFC

BBC Sport's Ben Smith
MOTD2 Extra

"It is too early to say Manchester City are on the brink of a crisis. There is no pressure on Manuel Pellegrini. I think he could lose today and be fine. He delivered more than the club expected last season, and you don't go getting rid of a manager who has brought such stability to the club.

"If he then has another season without a trophy, and Pep Guardiola's contract at Bayern Munich expires, then perhaps you make the change."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini: "The team is very similar, we continue to play in the way I like to play. There are no doubts about the way we play. Last year we were in a worse position than now and we won two trophies.

"We have made individual mistakes in the last two games and missed chances. We go to win three points today. We must be aggressive, there is not much difference between the big sides."

BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty at Etihad Stadium

"Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has shuffled things around to try and avoid the first back-to-back Premier League losses in his reign. He makes four changes, the most significant being enforced by the absence through injury of David Silva. So much of what City do revolves around the Spanish master, so how will they cope without him? It brings a heavier responsibility to bear on Yaya Toure, who has been out of sorts this season."

Jonathan Guckian:, external Januzaj starts his third straight game for United in the biggest of games. Big turnaround after being written off last month!

Edson Malele:, external Why always Januzaj?????

Thomas Huysinga, external: Smalling and Rojo just scream out 'vulnerability' at the back. And that's from a United fan. City to win via a defensive error

BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty at Etihad Stadium

"The sense that Juan Mata will be the odd man out when Manchester United have all their heavy weaponry available is increased by the fact that he is the man to miss out as captain Wayne Rooney returns from suspension. This is the area where manager Louis van Gaal has an embarrassment of riches. Even without £37.5m Mata, United can still boast Rooney, Angel Di Maria, Robin van Persie and Adnan Januzaj in their line-up. Positive. Very positive, with even the natural attacking instincts of Antonio Valencia at right-back. No holding back from Van Gaal."

MOTD2 Extra
BBC Sport

The team news from the Etihad has whet the appetite even more.

Football writer Patrick Barclay:"We were looking forward to this game a minute ago. Now after seeing the teams I am looking forward to it even more.

"Will United go with three at the back? If Valencia plays in a four he will still want to get forward. This could be high-class playground stuff."

BBC Sport's Ben Smith: "I am surprised at how open both teams appears to be. With Januzaj playing and Valencia in at right-back United are saying they are going to go for it.

"Louis van Gaal is almost admitting his team can't defend."

There have just got to be goals in this one. Haven't there?

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov, Jesus Navas, Toure, Fernando, Milner, Aguero, Jovetic. Subs: Sagna, Nasri, Dzeko, Caballero, Clichy, Fernandinho, Boyata.

Man Utd: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw, Blind, Fellaini, Januzaj, Di Maria, van Persie, Rooney. Subs: Mata, Lindegaard, Carrick, Ander Herrera, Fletcher, McNair, Wilson.

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel
Football Focus

"Louis van Gaal's Manchester United is a work in progress. The signings in the summer were good and very exciting and that gives hope and enthusiasm, but they need to tighten up in defence because conceding so many goals is not going to win you anything. The January transfer window is coming up and traditionally United do not buy but I think they have to do that. If they can tighten up at the back then yes, they can make the top four."

MOTD2 Extra

Football writer Patrick Barclay: "Yaya Toure needs to give a big performance. He owes Manchester City that. The way Marouane Fellaini has played in the last few games is the way David Moyes would have wanted him to, perhaps he didn't have the confidence up until now."

Image source, @MCFC

Former Wales international Robbie Savage: "I would have started Marouane Fellaini too. In the midfield four pushing forward he caused Chelsea lots of problems, his work rate was good. Looking at the players coming out Chelsea were giants compared to United, with Mata, Di Maria in the squad. Set pieces could play a vital part in today's game."

BBC Sport's Ben Smith: "This is an opportunity for Yaya Toure. If you play Sergio Aguero up front and Toure in behind him, that puts the onus on him to produce his best. He has often only produced that when City needed him to drag them over the line, but we haven't seen consistency from him for a long time."

Image source, Empics

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal: "Rafael is injured in training so I play with Antonio Valencia at right-back. For me it is not difficult to have Wayne Rooney back. He is my captain and is very important to our team.

"Juan Mata was difficult to leave out but you have to choose - Marouane Fellaini has scored and given assists so he is important also. My philosophy is always the same. We want to dominate."

MOTD2 Extra

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville told BBC Sport that United have no pressure on them today and effectively have a "free hit" at the Eithad Stadium.

The pundits aren't so sure.

Former Wales international Robbie Savage: "I have to disagree with Phil. I don't think you can ever have a free hit as a Manchester United player, especially in a derby. When you play for Manchester United you can't get a free hit in an any game."

Football writer Patrick Barclay: "If United lose this game or get a battering they are back to square one and all the good from Robin van Persie's late goal against Chelsea will be undone. And if they are beaten today they will be seven points behind City and that's a lot at this stage."

However, BBC Sport's Ben Smith sees most of the pressure on City.

"If City lose this game today the title is definitely out of their reach. Given how strong Chelsea look and their lack of weaknesses in their side I can't see that being recoverable."