All eyes on Manchester
Football occasions do not come much bigger than this.
When the fixtures are released, supporters immediately circle a handful of blockbuster dates — and the Manchester derby is always at the very top of that list.
The wait for kick-off has felt especially long this week, such is the anticipation around covering this match. If the remote-control time travel from Click existed, fast-forwarding straight to the opening whistle would have been tempting.
This latest Manchester United vs Manchester City showdown also arrives at the start of a fresh chapter for both clubs. Michael Carrick leads United’s red half of the city, while Enzo Maresca is now in charge across town at City.
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For the first time in a decade, Pep Guardiola will not be on the touchline for the Cityzens in a Manchester derby — a change that still feels strange. It is also possible to argue that United and City are more evenly matched in quality than they have been at any point since that previous era began.
Yet while a new era is taking shape, the enduring appeal of this rivalry remains exactly the same. The Manchester derby promises to be every bit as compelling as ever.
The anticipation is over. Let’s get underway.
