Manchester City - Manchester United Preview: Moyes prepares for first derby against Pellegrini's men

Both clubs have secured seven points from their opening four Premier League matches, while the injured David Silva and Danny Welbeck could both return to the matchday squadBoth sides have battled for the crown over the last two seasons with City emerging triumphant in 2012 before United re-established their supremacy last term in Sir Alex Ferguson's final campaign in charge.

David Moyes has since taken the helm at Old Trafford and, aside from a defeat to league leaders Liverpool at the beginning of September, the 50-year-old has made a solid start.

The teams have posted identical records going into the contest - having both taken seven points from four game.

United emerged 3-2 winners in the same fixture last term, Robin van Persie scoring the winner with a late free kick, and Pellegrini knows the importance of atoning for that defeat.

"I don't need to be here to know how big this derby is," Pellegrini said. "Playing against Man United at home we must win, it's more important to win than to not lose."

City will be boosted by the return of captain Vincent Kompany, the defender set to make his first Premier League appearance since suffering a groin injury in the season-opening 4-0 win over Newcastle United.

David Silva is also set to be involved after recovering from a thigh injury. The Spaniard has missed City's last two matches against Stoke and Viktoria Plzen.

Micah Richards has also returned to training following a hamstring problem and could be named in the matchday squad for the first time this season, while Gael Clichy (thigh) is a major doubt.

United, meanwhile, will be boosted by the news that Danny Welbeck has returned to full training and could be available, though defenders Phil Jones (ankle) and Rafael (hamstring) are doubts for the match.

The visitors will, however, be able to call on in-form forward Wayne Rooney, who has either directly scored or provided the assist for 40 goals in his last 44 Premier League outings.

And the former Everton man insists he is enjoying life at Old Trafford again, despite having been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea during the transfer window.

"I feel good and am glad to be out playing," Rooney commented. "It's good to work under him [Moyes] and hopefully we'll be successful together. I feel great."

Van Persie: Partnership with Rooney going from strength to strength

The Dutchman says the two strikers "can both end up with a lot of goals" this season and says Sunday's clash with Manchester City is a massive game for both sides

Robin van Persie says he expects his partnership with Wayne Rooney to go from "strength to strength" at Manchester United and feels both players will score plenty of goals this season.

After a summer of speculation surrounding his future Rooney remains at Old Trafford and bagged his 200th goal for the club in the midweek win over Bayer Leverkusen.

And Van Persie, who has also started the season in blistering form, says they make a great pairing up front.

"I love to play with Wayne because, for me, he has it all. As long as we can combine that really well, as long as we work together and try to improve which we are doing, I think we can go from strength to strength," he told reporters.

"I think everyone can see we want to play together, that we are trying to give the ball.

"For example, the ball that just missed me in the second half [against Leverkusen] when it went past me, he [Rooney] wanted to pass.

"Everyone could see that. It is good; it goes both ways. I really think if we can keep on growing, keep on passing each other the ball, we can both end up with a lot of goals this year."

The duo face Manchester City on Sunday and Van Persie says although it is still only September, it is a crucial clash for both teams.

"I personally never think in negatives, but I think for both sides it is really important to stay close to the top," he added. “If you lose you might be six points behind already. It’s a lot. So we don’t want that."

"The games come really quick and we love it. This is what we are used to, this is our rhythm, a game every three or four days.

"The Champions League has started which we really like. Sunday is a massive game."

The former Arsenal striker is also impressed with new signing Marouane Fellaini after he made his first start for the club in the Champions League victory at Old Trafford.

"He [Fellaini] looks very all-round to me, he can defend, he’s tough, he can make a tackle; he can really find a pass, between the lines, which is very important for the boys up front," Van Persie added.

"He can head a ball, he can help us with set pieces offensively and defensively."

Manchester United to make audacious £25m bid for Southampton starlet

Manchester United to make audacious £25m bid for Southampton starlet

The Red Devils are preparing for the future.


After failing to sign Leighton Baines from Everton this summer, Manchester United have instead turned their attention to Southampton full-back Luke Shaw, according to the Daily Star.

The Premier League champions are planning a massive £25m to tempt the Saints into selling one of their brightest young talents.

Shaw recently turned 18 and signed the left-back’s first professional contract at St Mary’s, keeping the Englishman on the south coast for five more years.

Both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have also been keeping tabs on the youngster, but it is David Moyes who is most desperate for fresh talent in Shaw’s position – with Patrice Evra now 32 and Baines unlikely to make the switch.

Southampton have a history of producing talented left-backs, with Wayne Bridge and Gareth Bale also being a product of their academy.

Although Bale is now an established attacking midfielder, the Welshman played in defence whilst with the Hampshire outfit, before developing a more offensive presence with Spurs.

Arsenal duo Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott are also from the Saints’ youth system and Shaw is the latest in a long list of talented players from the club.

Tottenham however will take United to the wire as currently Danny Rose is their only out-and-out left-back, with the slightly dubious Kyle Naughton back-up.

Jan Vertonghen was utilised in the position during Thursday night’s Europa League victory over Tromso, after an injury to Rose forced the full-back off in the first half.

Chelsea - Fulham Preview: Mourinho's men target end to four-game winless run

Last season's Europa League winners have not won in any competition since August 21 and will be looking to recover from their shock defeat to Basel on Wednesday

 And the match takes on extra significance for the Europa League holders given their slow start to the season which was capped on Wednesday with a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Basel in the Champions League.

New signing Samuel Eto'o has failed to impress in his first two matches for the club after joining from Anzhi Makhachkala, while fellow striker Fernando Torres is still short of form.

Chelsea defender Gary Cahill is aware that the club's record this term has been poor, but stopped short of calling it a crisis.

"It's not a disaster but it's not ideal. A club like this wants to win the majority of games it plays," Cahill told the club's official website.

"That's the expectation. It's a blow but it's not the be all and end all.

"We need to win our next game now, as simple as that. The manager will stress that."

Jose Mourinho's unbeaten record in Premier League fixtures at Stamford Bridge is a staggering 62 matches and although Chelsea's struggles will give Fulham a boost, Jol's side are in poor form themselves.

After a 1-0 triumph at Sunderland on the opening day, Fulham have failed to win in the league, leaving them in 14th position in the table.

Fulham looked set for all three points at Craven Cottage last Saturday against struggling West Brom, but conceded in injury time, as Gareth McAuley's header salvaged a point for the visitors in a 1-1 draw.

Dimitar Berbatov has failed to score in his four Premier League fixtures this season, while loan signing Darren Bent has started just once.

Bent is likely to return from a hamstring injury for the match, while Berbatov – who limped off against West Brom with a hamstring problem of his own – is a doubt.

Attacker Bryan Ruiz (ankle) was also substituted against West Brom and is likely to miss out, while goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg (shoulder) and defenders Aaron Hughes (thigh) and Matthew Briggs (hernia) will not feature.

Chelsea have a clean bill of health and will be hopeful of extending their 14-match unbeaten league run against Fulham.

Silva set to return for Manchester derby, says Pellegrini

The Spain international missed City's last two fixtures with a thigh injury but has trained with the first team ahead of Sunday's fixture against the Premier League champions

Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed David Silva is available for the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The 27-year-old midfielder missed Manchester City's last two fixtures against Stoke City and Viktoria Plzen with a thigh injury, but has returned to first-team training ahead of the fixture against the Premier League champions.


Pellegrini has also revealed that Micah Richards is in contention to make City's matchday squad for the first time this season after recovering from a hamstring problem, while Gael Clichy is a doubt after returning to training on Friday.

"The players who were injured were Micah Richards, he has worked normally with the whole squad, same thing [with] David Silva and [Gael] Clichy starts today," Pellegrini told reporters.

"It's the first day for him [Clichy] so maybe he will not be ready for next Sunday but all the other players expect [Martin] Demichelis are fit, no problems."

Despite managing for the first time in England, Pellegrini insists he understands the significance of the fixture against United and says his side will be aiming to secure three points against the Premier League champions.

"I don't need to be here to know how important the derby is, but working here and living here I know it is a special game.

"It is a match of six points. It is very important to win, [against] one of the most important teams.

"It is more important to win than not to lose. Of course if you cannot win it is better not to lose, but we will try to win from the beginning."

Rooney: Manchester City not bigger rivals than Liverpool

The 27-year-old does not believe Sunday's game will define the campaign, and says the Red Devils' rivalry with the Reds remains the club's most significant match of the year

Wayne Rooney says Manchester United's rivalry with Liverpool dwarfs the Manchester derby.

The reigning Premier League champions face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday in a match that could have a bearing on the destination of the trophy come May, but the England international believes playing Liverpool provides a bigger occasion.

“They’re all big games. Obviously United and Liverpool has been a massive game over the years,” Rooney told reporters.

“City have had their success recently, but I would probably say that United and Liverpool is still the biggest game.”

But Rooney, who has scored seven goals in 19 league appearances against City, is aware of the importance of the match and is relishing going head to head with a fellow title contender.

“It’s a massive game between two title contenders,” Rooney continued. “It’s not going to define the season, but it’s a big game, a local derby.

“The English players are more aware of what it means after the last four or five years. It’s a big game and we’ll be going there hopefully to win. I’ve scored a few goals against City and I’m looking forward to the match.”