Man City face Man Utd test as Liverpool’s kids prosper

Manchester City’s Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team first goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 20, 2024. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / 

Erling Haaland has Manchester United in his sights this weekend as Manchester City host their cross-town rivals at the start of a season-defining spell for the Premier League champions.

Pep Guardiola’s men, chasing an unprecedented fourth straight English top-flight crown, boast an impressive recent record against United but know they cannot afford a slip-up in a tight title tussle.

Leaders Liverpool are strongly fancied to see off struggling Nottingham Forest despite their injury problems, while free-scoring Arsenal face relegation-threatened Sheffield United.

AFP Sport picks out three talking points ahead of this weekend’s action.

Hotshot Haaland highlights Rashford’s woes
The Manchester derby appeared to be shaping up to be a tasty face-off between Haaland and Rasmus Hojlund until the in-form United forward sustained a muscle injury.

Norway international Haaland scored five times in the 6-2 FA Cup win against Luton in midweek to take his tally to 27 in 30 appearances in all competitions this season despite two months out injured.

In stark contrast Marcus Rashford, United’s leading man last season, has mustered just five goals, leaving his side blunt in attack at the Etihad in the absence of Hojlund, who is likely to be missing on Sunday.

City manager Pep Guardiola warned the United game would be “completely different” from their Luton romp but in truth the derby, while a blockbuster clash on paper, has become