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Saturday's Manchester derby between cross-town rivals Manchester United and Manchester City may not be the humdinger fixture that occasionally decided the destiny of the Premier League title, but in the context of both sides' seasons, it could still prove to be a pivotal game in their aspirations for the remainder of the campaign (City to stay in touch with Liverpool and United to narrow the gap in the battle for the top four).
It may be stretching the truth to suggest Manchester City's 2-2 draw away to Newcastle United last weekend cost them the title now that Liverpool are building an insurmountable lead at the top of the table. City trail leaders Liverpool by a whopping 11 points and they will now need to go on another sequence of winning run to apply pressure on the Reds.
For a squad replete with talent and with a manager of Pep Guardiola's sorcery and caliber, it is still not a done deal especially when you consider how City memorably won 14 in a row to retain the title after losing to the Magpies at the start of the year.
They have also dropped five points at home in their three home games against the traditional big six this term, which is as many as during the entirety of their title-winning 2018/19 season. City have never lost more than one Premier League home game in a season under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola, but after losing to Wolverhampton Wanderers in October, that record is in serious jeopardy.
Although the champions hit back with vengeance at Burnley in midweek, something is not quite right with City both on and off the pitch this season. In the midst of City's struggles, could their fierce rivals puncture their balloon and leave the Etihad with maximum points?
Here are two reasons why it could happen.
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#1 United are unbeaten against the traditional big six this season
Manchester United have played 15 matches this season, but have only managed five wins, making this one of their worst starts to a season in the Premier League era. The Red Devils' habit of throwing leads in matches this season has played a huge part in that appalling return of wins, but luckily for them, the teams below them have failed to maximize on that opening.
Three of United's four defeats have come against teams in the bottom half of the table, but their record against the traditional big six reads; P4 W2 D2, and they remain the only team in the country to stop Liverpool's trails this season.
The balance of power shifted a number of years back and Manchester City are now the predominantly established powerhouse in Premier League winning four titles since the turn of the decade. United will almost certainly fail to match City yet again this term during the 38-game season, but a one-off fixture could be the Reds' best bet to record a scalp over their rivals.
United's recent record against their cross-town rivals at the Etihad is slightly impressive. City's 3-1 win last season was their first in four attempts at home against Manchester United.
#2 City's defensive frailties a huge cause for concern
It is difficult to accept how a team with City's personnel and resources can be so vulnerable in any position on the pitch. Yet the Cityzens failed to buy a suitable replacement for their former centre-back and captain Vincent Kompany whose leadership qualities got them over the finish line in last season's dramatic title race.
Kompany's departure coupled with Aymeric Laporte's knee injury have seen City ship a remarkable 17 goals already this season. They have not kept a clean sheet in their last eight matches in all competitions and Guardiola's insistence of playing Fernandinho as a make-shift centre-back could prove detrimental on Saturday.
Anthony Martial is likely to return in the set-up and Marcus Rashford will be in buoyant mood after his match-winning brace against Tottenham Hotspur in midweek. Daniel James' pace could worry Benjamin Mendy at left-back and if the young Welshman succeeds to trouble City down the flank, United could claim an unlikely victory at the home of the great rivals.
