Sky Sports pundit says Sergio Aguero shades Robin van Persie
Friday 31 October 2014 17:18, UK
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher will be right here each week to cast his expert eye over the forthcoming Premier League games.
The Liverpool legend will have his say on the players, managers and stories surrounding Sky's live fixtures – and in this column, he discusses Super Sunday's mouth-watering Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium.
So read on for his thoughts on why the suspension-free Wayne Rooney must return to United's line-up, why the Red Devils will head to their neighbours in a positive frame of mind, and which Old Trafford player City would want in their line-up...
How impressive were Man United against Chelsea?
CARRA SAYS: United have put in a few good performances so far this season but mainly against sides you’d expect them to beat and beat comfortably, so what impressed me most about their draw with Chelsea last Sunday was how they competed with the best team in the league at the moment. I never really felt Chelsea were in any danger of losing the game but United kept going and had the edge in terms of possession and chances, so there were some good signs. They may have been fortunate to get a last-minute goal but they more than held their own within the game and should take confidence into Sunday’s big match.
Marouane Fellaini was a strong performer in that 1-1 draw, wasn’t he?
CARRA SAYS: He’s made an impact in his last two games. He came on and scored a very good goal against West Brom on Monday Night Football and then stood out against Chelsea. He kept Cesc Fabregas relatively quiet and looked really fit, too, so while I think he needs to improve a little bit more to be a regular fixture in the United midfield when Michael Carrick is fit again and Ander Herrera is at his best, he is a good option to have. There is flair in there with Angel Di Maria and the solidity of Daley Blind, but as a physical presence and an outlet, Fellaini could come in handy as the season goes on.
Will there be any tweaks to the side against Man City?
CARRA SAYS: They will be under more pressure at the Etihad so I’d bring Wayne Rooney straight back in for Juan Mata. Mata was disciplined against Chelsea and played well, but in an away game you’d want Rooney in there for his power and strength, bigger work rate and greater defensive duties. We all know Man City are a physically imposing side with Yaya Toure and Fernandinho in the middle, two big centre-backs and Edin Dzeko up top; they played some good football when they won this fixture 4-1 last season but a key part of their success was outmuscling United all over the park. Rooney offers you strength and skill so would seem perfect for this game. I don’t see him not starting.
Why are City struggling a little bit at the moment?
I think the game will have goals in it with as United always look to play on the front foot under Van Gaal and City nearly always go with two strikers.
CARRA SAYS: Because they are looking defensively weak at times and conceding goals. Sam Allardyce said after City lost to West Ham that he targeted Eliaquim Mangala, so it will be interesting to see whether he starts in this game or Martin Demichelis comes in as Vincent Kompany’s centre-back partner. A lot has been mentioned about the way Manuel Pellegrini sets up with the 4-4-2 and with Van Gaal playing 4-3-3 at the moment, could that extra man in midfield – possibly Rooney dropping deep – cause City problems? Maybe City have enough to go out and beat United but could Yaya Toure and one other be exposed? They could be. I think the game will have goals in it as United always look to play on the front foot under Van Gaal and City nearly always go with two strikers, and while I make City favourites, I think it will be close.
If City could pick one Man United player to go straight into their starting XI, who do you think they’d go for?
CARRA SAYS: Di Maria is the obvious choice. He’s started his United career like a house on fire and looks like he is going to create something every time he gets the ball, so you’d have to say him. As I mentioned, though, defence is their weakness, particularly with the second centre-back, but United aren’t blessed in that department either so I can’t really make a case for the likes of Chris Smalling or Marcos Rojo at the moment. If it wasn’t Di Maria, however, I’d go for Luke Shaw. I don’t think Gael Clichy or Aleksandar Kolarov are the best left-backs in the world, whereas I think Shaw, given a few more years’ experience, will become the best in that position in the Premier League.
Where do you stand on the Sergio Aguero or Robin van Persie debate? Who would you have in your team?
CARRA SAYS: It would definitely be Aguero for me. He has the best minutes-per-goal ratio in Premier League history and has already got eight in nine this season, even though that record is perhaps skewed a little by the four he got against Tottenham. I know he misses the odd game through injury, but Van Persie hasn’t had a completely clean bill of health throughout his career and Aguero’s movement, skill, pace and trickery edge it for me. With Luis Suarez gone, he is now the best striker in the division.
Is this game bigger for City than United?
CARRA SAYS: I’d have to agree with that, yes, because the gap between themselves and Chelsea is already too big for their liking. Six points will be hard to claw back anyway but if that gets to eight or nine, it will become extremely difficult to topple Chelsea. City started slowly last season and won the league so that will be in their minds but they didn’t have this Jose Mourinho team last season, a team that looks the real deal. Where Arsenal faded a little last term after getting an early initiative at the top of the table, I don’t think that will be the case for Chelsea. If United lose this, top four is still up for grabs, but if City lose it, the title looks a long, long way away.
Watch Man City v Man United, 12.30pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1 and stick around afterwards for Aston Villa v Tottenham, from 3.30pm on the same channel.
