Manchester derby: The World needs Man United now more than ever

The Manchester derby swoops in latter today, pitting Manchester United against neighbors Manchester City at the Etihad.

Of all the fixtures, no other seems more important at the moment than the war that is set to surface between the Blue half of Manchester and the Red half of the divide. The world needs a statement tonight, and no narrative will be worth the news than the Red Devils coming up top against the favorites — Man City. In essence, the world needs Manchester United.

Of course, the world does not the Red Devils as much as Liverpool or Arsenal need Manchester United to get points off their Manchester cousins, and following Liverpool’s devastating blow to Nottingham Forest yesterday at the City Ground, the Reds will be all the merrier if their eternal rivals, United can do them a favor just this once.

A Herculean task it is on all accounts by the look of it, as Erik ten Hag’s side will be travelling off to the Etihad, bearing in mind the 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford to same opponents, earlier in the season. Also, there is the Post Trauma of the 6-3 humiliation last season in Ten Hag’s very first campaign as United boss.

Of course, they were able to stop bitter rivals, Liverpool from repeating the 7-0 score line last season when both teams again met at Anfield in December, but the 0-0 score line was down to goalkeeper, Andre Onana putting in the shift to stop Liverpool’s threats. The Cameroonian on the day made a number of saves to keep Manchester United in the game, which then brings the question; can Andre Onana do it again?

It will suit the narratives, and of course make rival fans and Manchester United fans happy if the former Inter Milan goalie does, but today, only Andre Onana cannot save the Red Devils from Manchester City.

And then, there’s the enigmatic Erling Haaland…

And if the Old Trafford boys are going to carve out anything from this game, it will take 11-plus men to do it, and even then, that isn’t enough because Manchester City know what they are fighting for.