Man City Back On Top After Draw At United

Remarkably, French World Cup victor Thierry Henry and former United defender Patrice Evra also played for Club Omnisports des Ulis.

In Van Gaal, though, Rooney has a staunch public champion – for now at least.

We often forget how young he is, and injuries to so many of our attacking players has meant that he has played pretty much every game, so whilst I think he’d benefit from a rest at times, he’s fitted in quickly.

Ahead of his 30th birthday today, the view of Wayne Rooney as a player whose career, though hugely successful, has not quite fulfilled its early promise is being quietly reappraised.

Pellegrini feels City’s recent resurgence has changed the complexion of the once one-sided Manchester Derby.

In those two wins, City scored six and five goals, respectively, while only allowing the opposition to get one goal past them in each game.

Van Gaal expressed his desire to replace Di Maria but has not been able to find the players to fill the void, with the options available being limited.

Manchester City are looking for their 50th competitive win in the Manchester derby (49 wins, 50 draws and 69 losses).

They remain among the title favorites.

A forgettable 170th Manchester derby yielded only two shots on target at Old Trafford, but that was enough to return City to the summit on goal difference above Arsenal, with United two points back in fourth place.

With Aguero sidelined, Bony offered little up front for City, failing even to test United goalkeeper David de Gea. They came closest to a goal when substitute Jesse Lingard hit the bar six minutes from the end. It would be a massive call not to play Toure in a game of this magnitude and with Pellegrini’s future under nearly permanent scrutiny, I do not believe he can take such a big gamble. “We were the team that was really pressing and going for that victor but it wasn’t our luck”.

Juergen Klopp said his Liverpool side lacked self-belief after they were held 1-1 at home by Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday, leaving the German coach still without a win from his three games in charge. “If you can’t win, then don’t lose it. People have said that we can’t defend and in the second half we did very well”.

Having seen a shot deflected wide, the midfielder collected a short corner and went down under a challenge from Sterling, who went unpunished but made way for Navas in the 53rd minute.

Reduced to 10 men, the visitors wilted in the second half, conceding further goals to Billy Jones – his first for Sunderland – and Fletcher.

“If you go at the right time, you are always faster than your opponent”, said Van Gaal. The players on the pitch and me, tactically setting them out.