Former Chelsea forward Chris Sutton has boldly predicted a dominant 6-1 victory for Manchester City in their upcoming Premier League clash against Manchester United this Sunday (March 3).
The Cityzens, fresh off a 1-0 win against Bournemouth in their last Premier League fixture, are currently enjoying a remarkable run of form. With 16 wins and two draws in their last 18 matches across all competitions, they sit comfortably in second place in the league standings, boasting 59 points from 26 games.
On the other hand, Manchester United finds themselves in sixth place with 44 points from the same number of league matches. While they have managed to secure seven wins in their last nine outings, their momentum was momentarily halted by a 2-1 defeat at home to Fulham last Saturday.
In his exclusive column for the BBC, Sutton shared his insights on United’s upcoming Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium. He remarked:
“Manchester United secured a crucial 1-0 victory against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Wednesday. While it was a significant win for manager Erik ten Hag, it was not without its struggles, indicating that United may face challenges against City, especially with Rasmus Hojlund sidelined due to injury.”
Reflecting on United’s potential tactics against Manchester City, Sutton further added:
“Last weekend, I observed Marcus Rashford leading their attack against Fulham, and I must say, I was left disappointed – he barely had an impact.
This time around, Ten Hag might consider employing a strategy that has proven effective for United in the past against City, opting for split strikers and aiming to capitalize on counterattacks, which could play to their strengths.”
Expressing skepticism about United’s prospects, Sutton commented:
“However, United’s defensive lineup will be significantly weakened due to key absences, in addition to Hojlund’s injury. Their success will largely depend on their ability to withstand City’s prolonged spells of possession.”
In conclusion, Sutton backed Manchester City to clinch all three points, stating:
“It’s virtually certain that City will emerge victorious. The only question remains: by what margin? With Kevin de Bruyne expressing confidence in his improving form, I believe City could potentially secure a convincing victory.”
Manchester United, who suffered a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City earlier in the season, have historically struggled against Pep Guardiola’s side, with just two wins and six losses in their last nine encounters across various competitions against the treble winners.
