Football

ST View: Manchester derby starts anew with two new managers

Things will get interesting at this weekend's Manchester derby as both sides feature new managers - City with Manuel Pellegrini (left) and United with David Moyes. -- FILE PHOTOS: REUTERS, AFP
Things will get interesting at this weekend's Manchester derby as both sides feature new managers - City with Manuel Pellegrini (left) and United with David Moyes. -- FILE PHOTOS: REUTERS, AFP

Each weekend of EPL action brings about at least one mouth-watering clash, and this weekend is no different.

The finale of the round of matches, with its Sunday 11pm kick-off, the Manchester derby between City and United at Etihad Stadium promises to be a cracker of a game.

It has had its fair share of glorious moments in recent years. No one can forget Man City's 6-1 thrashing of an out-of-sorts United at Old Trafford in 2011. Or Wayne Rooney's stupendous bicycle-kick winner in the previous season. Or Robin van Persie's stoppage-time free-kick winner last season.

This time around, things get even more interesting, as both sides feature new managers.

City's Manuel Pellegrini may be glum-looking all the time, but he is reportedly a superb man-manager who has got all his players on his side, playing his brand of attractive football.

On the other hand, David Moyes is also starting to become his own man, after replacing the legendary Alex Ferguson. A superb 4-2 Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen is making Red Devil fans highly optimistic of life after Fergie.

If anything, Moyes should be commended for reviving Rooney, who was mired in a dreadful form slump last season. With three goals in his last two games, the English striker has reached the 200-goal mark for United and looks hungry for more.

City also looked good in their 3-0 Champions League victory away at Viktoria Plzen. So we should be looking forward to a fantastic match against the past two winners of the EPL.

Besides the Manchester derby, another EPL clash of interest this Sunday is Chelsea at home to Fulham.

Jose Mourinho's second stint has not got off to as great a start as his first, and their shock 1-2 defeat by Basel at home is causing more than a little worry amid the Blues camp.

They desperately need a win to get back on track, and quell talks of a crisis amid the Special One's return.

Liverpool, on the other hand, are riding high in the EPL - top of the table and unbeaten in four matches.

They face Southampton at home on Saturday, and it will be their last match without the suspended Luis Suarez.

Unfortunately, it will also be their first match without the injured Philippe Coutinho, and no one is certain if any other Reds player can step up in the playmaker role.

Good games all round, but all eyes will still be on the Manchester derby.

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