This week’s Manchester Derby promises to be a fascinating clash between two sides at the opposite end of the form spectrum. With that in mind, I thought it would be a good time to look back at the matches that have defined his rivalry in the Premier League era.
Manchester City have enjoyed a stellar week of cup football, lashing Exeter 10-1 in the FA Cup before putting one foot in the EFL Cup final with a 2-0 win at St James Park. Pep Guardiola’s side have lost ground in the title race but remain in the hunt for four trophies.
By contrast, United have gone through a whirlwind managerial change these past few weeks, ousting the stubborn Ruben Amorim and replacing him with club stalwart Michael Carrick. Amid the chaotic managerial merry-go-round, the Red Devils saw their last chance of silverware evaporate following a poor 2-1 cup loss to Brighton.
This rivalry has created some indelible Premier League moments. Who could forget Rooney’s iconic overhead kick or Roy Keane’s revenge attack on Alfe-Inge Haaland? But I’m looking for the matches- not moments- that best define this intense rivalry. And I think I have done a decent job.
5 – December 2012: Sweet revenge in Fergie’s final Etihad trip
Fergie was always going to have the last laugh, wasn’t he? United suffered the most horrible of fates in 2011/2012, losing to Mancini’s City on goal difference. Fergie wasn’t going to let that happen again, pinching Arsenal striker Robin van Persie in one of the greatest coups in Premier League history.
United appeared to be strolling to victory in the early stages of this clash, with a Rooney double putting City squarely on the back foot. But Mancini’s men fought like the champions they were, pulling one back through Yaya Toure before Zabaleta heroically levelled things with little time to spare. Enter stage left:
Robin van Persie. The Dutchman’s deflected injury-time free-kick evaded everyone, giving United all three points and the impetus to reclaim the title.
4 – October 2022: Haaland and Foden hat-tricks light up highest-scoring Derby ever
This was an early sign of City’s intentions during their glorious treble-winning campaign. City went into this match as huge favourites, with new signing Erling Haaland scoring eleven goals in his first seven league outings.
Guardiola’s side ran riot at the Etihad, with the Norwegian becoming the first player in Premier League history to register three successive home hat-tricks. Derby specialist Phil Foden was also in irresistible form on the day, netting his own stellar treble.
A late brace from Anthony Martial flattered the visitors tremendously. This result (like the 7-1 disasterclass against Liverpool later in the season) was a massive body blow in the early managerial tenure of Erik ten Hag. One that he would never fully recover from.
3 – November 1993: Keane winner caps amazing United comeback
This is the only match on this list that predates Sheikh Mansoor’s hostile takeover of the league (no chants of Wonderwall just yet). The fans at Maine Road were in top form for this fixture, chanting ‘two-nil up and you f***ed it up’ (a reference to United’s recent Champions League exit to Galatasaray).
It made the irony of what was to follow even more delightful for United fans. Old-school centre-forward Niall Quinn gave City a 2-0 lead, scoring two trademark headers to lift the roof off Maine Road. But King Eric responded in kind, netting just before halftime and again in the 78th minute to set up a grandstand finish.
And United would complete the comeback, with a youthful Roy Keane smashing home the winner in his first derby. This was the type of heroic comeback that would become a staple of Fergie’s all-conquering United sides.
2 – October 2011: Noisy neighbours usurp city rivals
If United’s 4-3 win in 2009 gave us all a glimpse of what this new-look City side had to offer- this match gave us the full six-course meal. This game marked a changing of the guard in Manchester, laying the foundation for City’s later dominance.
Misunderstood bad-boy Mario Balotelli stroked City ahead in the 22nd minute, prompting the now legendary ‘Why always me’ celebration. United stayed within touching distance of City until Jonny Evans’ 47th-minute dismissal altered the course of the match.
David Silva started to wave his magic wand and United were put to the sword. It got especially brutal in the last few ten minutes, when United’s hell-is-for-heroes approach exposed them to City’s deadly counterattacks.
City would win the league on goal difference, finishing the year eight goals better off than United. That shows you just how much this ten-goal swing mattered.
1 – September 2009: Liverpool legend turns into unlikely United matchwinner
Yeah, I know. Not the most original choice. But honestly, this game had everything you could ask for. The first half was quaint in comparison to the second, with Rooney firing United ahead before calamitous goalkeeping from Ben Foster allowed Gareth Barry to equalise.
If that first half was typical derby fare, the second half was from another planet. Big-game specialist Darren Flectcher would twice give United the lead, only for Welsh tearaway Craig Bellamy to equalise on both occasions (Rio Ferdinand will still have nightmares about that afternoon).
But cometh the hour, cometh the….scouse. Well not technically, Michael Owen – Hollywoodbets’ newest brand ambassador – is from Chester. But you know what I mean. Former Liverpool pinup idol Owen struck the decisive blow, ninjaing his way into the box before toe-poking the ball home. United may have won that day’s bragging rights, but this game was a harbinger of things to come.
