Manchester United

Louis van Gaal makes just once change from the mission to Moscow in midweek as Juan Mata replaces Jesse Lingard. 

Manchester City

Well, no is the answer.

Vincent Kompany starts for Manchester City. Also in are Aleksandar Kolarov and Fernando as Pablo Zabaleta, Eli Mangala and Jesus Navas come out.

Is Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini punishing captain Vincent Kompany, after he played for Belgium despite City sending medical reports saying he was injured?

Kompany has been on the bench for City's last two games and BBC Radio 5 live pundit Jermaine Jenas thinks he is being punished. He says: “Kompany is part of their best 11 and I personally think there is an issue.

"Pellegrini wasn’t happy that he had picked up the injury and then he played with Belgium. Maybe Pellegrini is saying 'that was unacceptable'.”

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

For the best part of 20 years, Manchester United were streets ahead of rivals City on the pitch. Sometimes several divisions ahead.

In the last few years though it has been City who have had the upper hand - winning six of the last eight meetings in the Premier League.

Now, it looks very tight indeed.

After nine games of the Premier League season Manchester United come into today's derby on 19 points. City have 21. 

Arsenal are top on 22...

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Mid June, the fixtures come out, you scan down for the key words;

Manchester United (a) or Man City (h).

Book the weekend off work, off family. Arrange plans with friends.

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Enjoy your early-season form. Revel in the other lot's early-season wobbles.

See the tension increase as the big day looms nearer.

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Hit almost unbearable anxiety when the big day rolls around, you're two points apart and you could both go top with a win.

Sound familiar?

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It's Manchester derby day. It's massive. It's now.