Man City have reason to beware rejuvenated Manchester United to avoid derby day slip

Manchester City's first game after the international break couldn't be much bigger; Manchester United will be the visitors at the Etihad Stadium for the first Manchester derby of the season.

Derby day is not a match that any true City fan looks forward to. As the weekend gets closer and closer the doubts start to creep in, memories of past defeats and United's former dominance permeating minds and making for an nervy week.

For some Blues though, the upcoming meeting of the two Manchester giants isn't quite as nerve-inducing as it usually is. City's two defeats of United last season have gone some way to making usually-pessimistic City fans rather confident, not because they won but due to the manner in which they did so.

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Pep Guardiola's side could not have imagined the matches at Old Trafford and the Etihad to be so easy if they'd tried, such was City's superiority to their neighbours.

City's 2-0 win at Old Trafford on 6th November sent shockwaves through the Premier League as City put together their first totally dominant performance of the season. Guardiola's side enjoyed 67% possession, took 16 shots to United's five and completed over twice as many passes.

For some United fans the humiliation was too much to bear; the away fans delighted in their tears.

The return match four months later saw United start fairly well, but by the final whistle Ralf Rangnick's players trudged off battered and bruised after a 4-1 defeat. In truth, the scoreline flattered the Reds.

However, City fans' confidence might be misplaced if they think Sunday's meeting will prove to be as one-sided or easy. After a disastrous start to the