Paul Merson can’t see Manchester United getting something out of their journey to Manchester Metropolis this weekend, except they put in an ‘unbelievable’ defensive efficiency.
The Manchester derby takes place on Sunday afternoon on the Etihad Stadium.
Joao Palhinha is the Premier League discount of the season to date for Fulham
United go into the fixture in good type having received their final 4 consecutive Premier League encounters.
They sit fifth within the desk, three locations and 5 factors behind their unbeaten metropolis rivals.
Former Arsenal midfielder Merson thinks the Pink Devils can probably damage Metropolis on the break, however says it’s going to take rather a lot for them to get a end result on the Etihad, predicting a 3-1 win for the champions.
“Manchester United have gotten the gamers to harm Manchester Metropolis,” he wrote in his Sportskeeda column. “We’ve seen a variety of instances that it’s come what may for United – they’ll both get a end result, or they’ll get ripped to shreds.
“The longer they keep on this sport, the extra they’ll get entangled and create possibilities. There can be gaps in Metropolis’s defence, and the likes of Eriksen and Fernandes might want to discover that excellent go.
“Cristiano Ronaldo will discover himself on the bench but once more this weekend. If United should win this sport, they should play with tempo on the counter. Ronaldo struggled for Portugal the opposite day, and he isn’t going to begin this sport.
“Tyrell Malacia hasn’t executed a lot unsuitable within the Premier League to date. Erik ten Hag is aware of him, and he’s most likely going to begin in opposition to Man Metropolis.
“Man United have been more durable to attain in opposition to of their final 4 video games and can most likely persist with the identical defence.”
Merson says he wouldn’t be shocked to see Anthony Elanga play on the suitable over £85million summer time signing Antony, noting that the previous will put in a greater defensive shift.
“It’s going to be a tough sport for Man United’s entrance line,” he continued.
“I’m unsure if Ten Hag will play Antony from the beginning – there can be a variety of monitoring again with Joao Cancelo bombing ahead. Manchester Metropolis will look to create overloads within the last third, and I wouldn’t be shocked if Elanga performs simply to trace Cancelo.
“I don’t think about Pep Guardiola asking his gamers to play diagonal balls onto Erling Haaland’s head. I don’t suppose Haaland actually cares about his opponents. He’s simply scary – he’s exceptionally fast and his motion is phenomenal.
“Man United are going to take a seat again and soak all of it up, with Marcus Rashford enjoying on the counter.
“They’ll should defend unbelievably properly to get something out of this match. I don’t see how they’re going to take a seat again with out Man Metropolis not hurting them, and I believe Pep Guardiola’s facet will break them down ultimately.”
