Andy Cole pinpoints Manchester United tactic that can succeed against Man City

Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole believe his old club can find a way to beat Manchester City on Sunday afternoon if the players approach the contest in "tip-top form."

United, who have won their last three visits to the Etihad Stadium, will make the short hop across town as underdogs, with City currently riding high at the summit. City also schooled United back in November in a 2-0 win at Old Trafford.

However, United have only lost once in the league since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked. They have shown signs of promise at times under Ralf Rangnick — even if results, including a number of draws, have sometimes suggested otherwise.

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With that in mind, plus United's track record of approaching big games with a mentality of hitting their opponents on the counter-attack. Cole has told his former side what they must do at the Etihad.

"They [City] can be got at but United have to be in tip-top form to cause those problems," Cole told United's club website. "Counter-attacking football.

"They will dominate the ball for long periods of the game so counter-attacking football is massive for United to try to win the game, breaking with pace. You can ask where they have the pace to hurt City and I don't know really but Anthony Elanga could be an option.

"Marcus Rashford has pace but I don't know if Marcus is going to play. Jadon Sancho has decent pace. But I keep saying I just don't know really and football matches are never ever going to change.

"If you dominate the midfield areas, you've always got a chance of controlling a football match. If you look at how City play at the moment, they defend from the halfway line and you've