City Entertain United in Derby Clash

One of the highlights of the Premier League calendar takes place on Wednesday night as Manchester City entertain their wealthy cousins from United in a live televised match. The fixture would ordinarily be a heated affair anyway, but here everything is to play for as United could go top if results in the Chelsea/Fulham derby go their way and City will be pulling level on their neighbourhood rivals if they take the three points. 

As Manchester United is forced to choose from a virus-hit team, bookmakers have been shortening the odds on a Man City win. United were initially given the green light with City’s odds of victory quoted at 9/5 but as news about the Red Devils’ problems became clearer, City are now being given a 13/8 chance come full-time. 

Betting against Man United might increase even more after the news was released that Hargreaves is expected to be out injured for at least six weeks and Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic, Dimitar Berbatov and Paul Scholes all have sick notes that say they are suffering with a virus. 

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side are still favourites, with sports-betting fans being offered 2/1 odds on and a draw being 7/3. However, will Mancini’s men take their chances of a home victory and pull level with United later on today? Carlos Tevez is the favourite to score first, on the bookmakers chart at 9/2, and he is sure to want to get one over on his former club.