Derided as "noisy neighbours" by Sir Alex Ferguson following a 4-3 win for Manchester United in September, Manchester City may not be directly challenging their rivals just yet, but with United slipping off the title pace and City on the brink of Champions League qualification, a subtle shift in the city's power dynamics may be occurring.

• Forum: Who will win the derby?

The writing was on the wall when City lured Carlos Tevez to Eastlands in the summer and with 28 goals in all competitions, Ferguson's decision to let him leave while retaining Dimitar Berbatov looks unwise at best. Tevez, nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award alongside Wayne Rooney on Thursday, will naturally be a figure of intense media focus in the build-up to the game following his spat with Gary Neville in the Carling Cup semi-final and habit for attracting controversy. Criticising Roberto Mancini's training methods will not have helped.

But it is not just the defection of Tevez that has lead some to sense a possible changing of the guard. United, eliminated from the Champions League and clinging onto any remaining hopes of a fourth consecutive title, can only cast envious glances at the huge resources afforded to City by owner Sheikh Mansour. Are United a team in decline, and City the new force in Manchester? It would be foolish in the extreme to write off Ferguson, but the blue half have rarely been as close to their much-vaunted rivals.

City, who have lost only once at home this season and have scored 14 goals in their past three games, sit one point above Tottenham in fourth. An out-of-form United, meanwhile, are four points behind Chelsea with four games remaining. Constrasting fortunes, both on and off the pitch, but the return of Rooney from an ankle injury could yet lift the gloom hanging over United.


The poster that caused controversy at the start of the season

Manchester City team news: Pablo Zabaleta returns from a two-game suspension and is likely to replace Nedum Onuoha at right back. Stephen Ireland and Patrick Vieira have both been training this week. Wayne Bridge could also make his first appearance since March 14 having overcome an ankle problem, although the defender may start on the bench.

Manchester United team news: The key issue for United is whether Rooney can shake off the ankle injury that forced him to miss the 0-0 draw with Blackburn. If he doesn't, then Dimitar Berbatov will play up front. Ryan Giggs expects to be fit despite a hamstring worry.

Probable Manchester City team (4-4-2): Given, Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Garrido, Johnson, Barry, De Jong, Bellamy, Tevez, Adebayor.

Probable Manchester United team (4-5-1): Van der Sar, Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Nani, Rooney.

Soccernet

Carlitos must bag a brace!!
I dunno the rest. . .
Get us a poll already.

This match is the turning point of man united title challenge

how sweet . . . turning point ko! twisting point ni!

Manure's season ends with this fixture.
they should be happy to have clinched the Beer Cup.
at least, they didn't end as empty handed as Arsenal . . .and maybe Liverpool.

This will be a draw or city will win

dyabman:

how sweet . . . turning point ko! twisting point ni!

chelseabmw:

Today will tell.I will be live here for match analysis later today by 12:45pm

[size=20pt] up chelseaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, am with you at that time[/size]

Enough trips for Market today

Man U is not Burnley!

ManShity is going down. Glory glory Man United.!

[size=8pt][size=8pt]Come on City, win this derby and kill United title hope once for all, 
the title must go back to the bridge.

Bluess for life[/size][/size]

All u deluded man u fans, u had better warn red nose not to risk playing your one man team (rooney) cos England needs him for world cup

GP15:

[size=8pt][size=8pt]Come on City, win this derby and kill United title hope once for all, 
the title must go back to the bridge.

Bluess for life[/size][/size]

  they will surely see that today

All u deluded man u fans,  u had better warn red nose not to risk playing your one man team (rooney) cos England needs him for world cup

Letz see how it goes, hope united wins.

where is everybody?

chelseabmw where are u?

bellamy Vs Neville,

i can see that rooney is not fit, he's just being force to play

Excellent from Toure. Rooney woulda made Kompany pay

PDP or how did Rooney miss a booking there for the kick on De Jong

[size=13pt]Yes am back[/size]

dayokanu:

PDP or how did Rooney miss a booking there for the kick on De Jong

Rooney is England's pride and joy nah. Abi, dem fit arrest pope?

dayokanu:

PDP or how did Rooney miss a booking there for the kick on De Jong

 

odiaero:

chelseabmw where are u?

[size=13pt]
Am right at ur back [/size]