'Would be funny' - pundits disagree as Manchester United vs Man City scoreline predicted

Man United and Man City clash at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon

Manchester United play Manchester City for the 196th time on Sunday. Despite there being 14 points separating the sides just now, the pundits think Sunday's clash will be a tight affair.

In recent seasons City have been clear favourites but poor runs of form have highlighted weaknesses in Pep Guardiola’s side and Ruben Amorim and United will hope to exploit those for the second time this season.

Four of the last seven competitive matches between the two Manchester clubs have finished with a scoreline of 2-1 but do the pundits see this Manchester derby going the same way?

Chris Sutton

“Manchester United are short of goals, and I don't understand why Ruben Amorim went with Joshua Zirkzee to lead their attack ahead of Rasmus Hojlund in Tuesday's defeat at Nottingham Forest.

“I see Hojlund as a number nine, while Zirkzee is a nine-and-a-half to a 10 - anything but a centre-forward. It cannot be helping Hojlund's confidence, because it is quite obvious Amorim doesn't fancy him when he is desperate for results and he is not picking him.

“People are saying United played well against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, and they dominated the ball, but they looked a bigger threat when Harry Maguire came on at the end of the game.

“Is there a chance of big Harry playing up front from the start here? That would be funny, but it is not going to happen.

“Manchester City will have to try something different in their attack too, with Erling Haaland out injured.

“They have not clicked often enough this season, especially in the bigger games, and I still don't feel you can trust them to turn up the way they always used to - but this time I have a feeling they will find a way through.

“If Amorim did manage to get the better of Pep Guardiola for a third time this season, then United would probably be selling T-shirts to mark the achievement. I don't see it happening though.”

Sutton's prediction: Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City

Paul Merson

“This is an interesting game because Manchester United enjoyed a lot of the ball in that defeat at Nottingham Forest, and Manchester City are not ripping teams apart either, you know what I mean? City went 2-0 ahead against Leicester and it eventually became boring! That is so unlike the City of the past.

“The Manchester derby this time around isn't a foregone conclusion like in the past few years. I feel Manchester United have a chance. It's not like City are playing well and I don't expect them to dominate the hosts at Old Trafford.

“Jack Grealish looked good in that deeper midfield role against Leicester. But I don't really know how much that performance really means cause Leicester are one of the worst teams in the division! All I'm saying is that City isn't at their best and that gives United a strong chance to get something from this game.”

Merson’s prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Manchester City

Jamie Carragher

The Sky Sports pundit predicts a series of match results each week for Sky’s Super 6. However, the former England international couldn’t see there being an outright winner in Sunday’s Manchester derby.

Carragher’s prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Manchester City