Manchester United make two changes from the side which drew 1-1 with Chelsea. Rafael is injured so Antonio Valencia is in at full-back, and Wayne Rooney replaces Juan Mata.

United: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw, Blind, Fellaini, Januzaj, Rooney, Di Maria, van Persie

Yaya Toure has scored in three of his last four Premier League appearances against Manchester United.

Wayne Rooney has scored four goals in his last five Premier League appearances at the Etihad Stadium, including three in his last two games there.

Rooney is the top scorer in Manchester derbies, both overall and in the Premier League; 11 in all competitions and eight in the Premier League.

Who will come out on top today?

MOTD2 Extra

Football writer Patrick Barclay: "If you look at the pattern since Manchester City became a huge club, they can be terrifying on big occasions. But I can't imagine United getting through without scoring. I can see four goals today. Working out how to apportion them is difficult though."

Former Wales international Robbie Savage: "City's performances this year have been poor, I was at the West Ham game and they only kicked into life there when they changed the formation. Defensively there have been so many different players in the back four, and I would say yes they are struggling for confidence."

BBC Sport's Ben Smith: "I fancy City, just. They were struggling last season before they went into the derby match but they had too much. United have improved and are better going forward than they were last year, but Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero come with their best for this type of game and I think they will again."

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel
Football Focus

"For Manchester City, the derby game against Manchester United is the biggest game in the calendar. I experienced the game with City for one year, and it was really weird playing the other way around. I had already tried to play against United for Aston Villa home and away but with City it was 10 times as weird. I don't think Manchester United played well in that game..."

Image source, Getty Images

In November 2002, having played on the winning side of the Manchester derby during nine years at United, Schmeichel played in City's 3-1 win at Maine Road.

Do you agree with Robbie Savage? Are Manchester City in trouble if they don't win this afternoon?

Get in touch at #bbcfootball, external, pop on to the BBC Sport Facebook page, external or BBC Sport's Google+ area., external

You can also text us on 81111 in the UK only - don't forget to say who you are and where you are texting from.

Surely it won't be quiet at the Etihad this afternoon...?

Here are a few of your comments in reaction to Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's criticism of the home fans' support at Stamford Bridge.

Kevin Kilnan:, external It's been like that for years, even before Mourinho first came to the club 10 years ago. The real fans have been priced out of Stamford Bridge.

Dan Reason:, external I'm a Chelsea fan and I totally agree. Our home support is shocking. It's much better at away games for some reason.

Image source, Getty Images

Ryan Leach:, external It's what happens when the stadium is full of glory hunters who just turn up and expect a 4-0 win.

We've been asking you to send in your selections for a best XI from the Manchester City and Manchester United squads.

Luke, Birmingham: I'd have to say the centre-half selection is so poor I would play three at the back and go on the attack big time. De Gea, Zabaleta, Kompany, Jones, Di Maria, Toure, Silva, Mata, Januzaj, Dzeko, Aguero.

Andrew James: For me definitely De Gea in goal, back four of Zabeleta, Kompany, Rojo and Shaw, in midfield Blind, Toure, Di Maria, Silva and Rooney, and up front van Persie!

Tom, West London: 4-1-2-1-2 ('diamond'): De Gea; Zabaleta, Kompany, Rojo, Blind; Toure; Silva, Di Maria; Rooney; Aguero, Falcao. Blind the most defensively competent at left-back.

MOTD2 Extra
BBC Sport

MOTD2 Extra gets underway at 12:15 GMT on BBC One. Join Robbie Savage, Ben Smith and Patrick Barclay for a look back to yesterday's games and a preview of the Manchester derby and Aston Villa v Spurs.

And later you can watch highlights of all the weekend's action with Match of the Day 2 from 22:00 on BBC Two for viewers in England and Wales, from 22:30 for viewers in Northern Ireland and from 22:45 for viewers in Scotland.

We've been asking you to send in your selections for a best XI from the Manchester City and Manchester United squads.

Jaspal Johan:, external De Gea, Zabaleta, Kompany, Rojo, Kolarov, Toure, Blind, Di Maria, Silva, Mata, Aguero.

Image source, Getty Images

Chukwuemeka:, external De Gea, Zabaleta, Kompany, Rojo, Clichy; Blind, Toure, Silva; Di Maria, van Persie, Aguero.

Oliver:, external De Gea, Zabaleta, Kompany, Mangala, Shaw, Fernandinho, Herrera, Di Maria, Silva, Aguero, Falcao.

MOTD's Guy Mowbray at Etihad Stadium

"City's dominance in recent times might see United fans disagree, but this is a golden era for Manchester derbies.

"With the results of league clashes between the teams being balanced since 2001, I cannot recall a derby since then being anything other than an intriguing prospect, and this - the 151st league meeting - is no different.

"City have won five of the last six in the Premier League, including the last three, and they will be favourites to extend that run here - or will they?"

"He wasn't meant to be our only signing at United that summer. He was brought in to compliment the squad and the other players we were hoping to bring in; to do a certain job in certain game."

So says former Manchester United manager David Moyes about £28m man Marouane Fellaini in an exclusive Mail on Sunday interview today., external

With signs of improvement from the big Belgian in recent weeks, Moyes claims Fellaini operates best with a defensive midfielder alongside him, is a "terrific runner" with "fantastic chest control" and a "great attitude". What's more, Fellaini's proud dad cried when he signed for United.

And that barnet? Moyes: "With Marouane's hair, I actually wondered if it might take a bit of pace off the ball when he went up for a header. But I soon realised it was part of his personality."

We've been asking you to send in your selections for a best XI from the Manchester City and Manchester United squads.

Simon Boendermaker:, external De Gea; Zabaleta, Kompany, Jones, Kolarov; Blind; Toure, Fellaini (on current form); Silva, Di Maria; Aguero.

Image source, EPA

Deano:, external Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Mangala, Kolarov, Di maria, Toure, Fernandinho, Silva, Aguero, Rooney.

Liam:, external De Gea, Zabaleta, Kompany, Jones, Shaw, Toure, Fernandinho, Navas, Di Maria, Silva, Aguero.

Does that 'current form' for Fellaini consist of one game?

Chris Smalling is on media duty for Manchester United and tells is that "The game will be 100mph." Thanks for that Chris...

Wayne Rooney leads his Manchester United team-mates into the tunnel at the Etihad Stadium. Suited, and indeed booted, they are all set as manager Louis van Gall has a long chat with a fluorescently-tabarded steward.

Roadworks on the ring road...