Not many early adopters to the seats at Old Trafford in the poor weather as the home side come out to warm-up. Skipper Wayne Rooney leads from the front.

BBC Sport pundit Robbie Savage

"A slack attitude will be unacceptable in the derby, and the City players will know it. Put it this way, if that happens at Old Trafford, then their fans will definitely let them know.

"For me, City's title defence is over now but, let's face it, it had effectively ended before they lost at Crystal Palace on Monday.

"The important thing for them now is to finish the season well.

"Ideally, that would mean finishing second and above United but, like their chances of beating their neighbours, that also looks far less likely than it did a month or so ago."

Read more from Robbie here

Chelsea

A performance of champions? Chelsea had one shot on target all game and put it in the net. They are seven points clear at the top, 11 above Manchester United and 12 above City.

You can follow all of the reaction from that game in a separate page - click here to follow action from Loftus Road.

As part of Sunday's 5 live Sport a handful of Manchester United and City fans have chosen their combined Manchester team of the season.

Here's the team they came up with…

De Gea, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Carrick, Herrera, Milner, Silva, Rooney, Aguero.

What are your thoughts? Do Yaya Toure, Juan Mata and co deserve to be left on on current form?

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.

Paul Moore: As a City fan it is seriously worrying me that we haven't been hammered off United in years now. It seems well overdue. I hope I am wrong.

Tim Craven: Imagine a year ago, being told Manchester United had bought Di Maria and Falcao. And Young and Fellani were keeping them out the team.

Mathew Penistone: Manuel Pellegrini finally changes his formation in a big game....though last time he did that Arsenal beat them 2-0.

The sun may be baking Loftus Road but it's a filthy day in Manchester, cold, windy and wet. If there was any more encouragement for a slide tackle or two needed, these conditions could be just the tonic...

Image source, @manutd

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has had plenty of supporters in his ear this week by the sounds of it.

A big late goal for Chelsea sees them move seven points clear of Arsenal once more.

You can follow minute-by-minute updates on that game in a separate page - click here to follow action from Loftus Road.

R is for Rooney

Image source, Getty Images

The shinned screamer. Wayne Rooney's late bicycle-kick winner at Old Trafford in 2011 ensured his place in derby history.

It was the most famous of 11 goals that the 29 year-old has scored against Manchester City.

He has found the net in the fixture than any other player from either side. City's top scorers are Joe Hayes and Francis Lee with 10 each.

Read more of our A-Z guide here

Image source, PA

City may have won the last four Manchester derbies in a row, but City captain Vincent Kompany says Manchester United have regained their desire to win the derby.

Defender Kompany, 29, told Football Focus he believes Louis van Gaal's side will be desperate to end that run.

"For a long time I felt we wanted it more, but I think they've been hurt pretty badly and they'll want it just as much now," the Belgian said.

"They have their games against Liverpool, which are very important to them. For us, this is the most important game.

"In previous years I think we wanted it more but things change."

Make no mistake - both sides will be desperate to win this afternoon...

As part of Sunday's 5 live Sport a handful of Manchester United and City fans have chosen their combined Manchester team of the season.

The results suggest - to me anyway - that both sides have a fair amount of work to do in the summer. But who would you pick? And why?

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.

BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty at Old Trafford

"It is like the depths of winter around Old Trafford as wind and driving rain set up the prospect of difficult conditions for the derby between Manchester United and Manchester City.

"It was only just over a year ago that City's 3-0 win here saw them go 15 points clear of a Manchester United side floundering under David Moyes having played two games less.

"Now, under the leadership of Louis van Gaal, United are a point ahead of City. Recent history is against United, however, with City having won the last four derbies - and the last three at Old Trafford.

"United will have the confidence after wins against Spurs, Liverpool and Aston Villa put them on course for the top four while City have lost their last three away games at Liverpool, Burnley and Crystal Palace."

Man City

Manchester City make two changes from the team which lost at Crystal Palace. Pablo Zabaleta replaces Bacary Sagna at right-back and James Milner comes in for Edin Dzeko.

City XI: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy; Navas, Milner, Toure, Fernandinho, Silva; Aguero

Man Utd

Manchester United make one change - Chris Smalling comes in for Marcos Rojo.

Man Utd XI: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Blind; Carrick, Herrera, Fellaini; Mata, Young, Rooney

The reverse in form in Manchester has been startling in recent weeks and months.

Champions City have lost five of their last seven games in all competitions - that's relegation form - while Louis van Gaal's United have put together a run of five straight league wins to move into third place and once again look down on the boys in blue.

A home win today and City *could be 12 points behind Chelsea with six games to go. Surely that would be too much?

*Chelsea are currently drawing 0-0 with QPR. Follow that game in full in this page.

"In the last three months we have thrown it into the garbage."

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini neatly summarised his side's recent form in his pre-match briefing with several national newspapers.

A glance at the Premier League table as recently as 10 January shows that champions City were level on points with Chelsea at the top of the table, a huge nine points clear of rivals Manchester United.

But three months of regular trips to the tip have left City behind United going into the second derby of the year - something that even the most optimistic United fan would have found hard to believe at the turn of the year.

This afternoon, it's showdown time at Old Trafford. Will United continue to pour on the pain for Pellegrini?