Paul Merson makes surprising Manchester City vs Manchester United prediction

Paul Merson has made his prediction (Picture: Getty)

Paul Merson insisted he cannot envision a world where Manchester City are victorious in Sunday’s derby clash with Manchester United.

Ruben Amorim is under the spotlight already with his side far from convincing in their opening three Premier League games.

The Red Devils lost on opening day to Arsenal and drew with Fulham before a last-minute penalty from Bruno Fernandes secured a narrow win over Burnley prior to the international break.

Despite that inconsistent form, though, it is United that sit above City in the table ahead of Sunday’s kick-off at the Etihad Stadium.

Back-to-back defeats to Tottenham and Brighton have seen Pep Guardiola’s side take just three points from a possible nine with more injury problems adding to their woes.

And despite a summer of heavy spending and recruitment, City appear no closer to rediscovering their mojo after a dispiriting league campaign last time out.

Guardiola’s side failed to beat Amorim’s United in both of their meetings last season – drawing one and losing the other – and Merson is confident that City’s poor recent form against their neighbours won’t come to an end this weekend.

Pep Guardiola’s side are looking to avoid their third straight league defeat (Picture: Getty)

‘I thought Manchester United were really good the against Burnley,’ the former Arsenal midfielder told Sportskeeda.

‘It was a bit like the Manchester United of the old times. But they still needed a penalty at the end to win that game and that is a concern if you ask me.

‘Manchester City looked comfortable until the substitutions changed the game for Brighton. I’m looking for reasons to back City here and I can’t find any if I’m being honest!

Ruben Amorim is unbeaten in his two league matches with Guardiola (Picture: Getty)

They don’t have a player like David Silva or Kevin De Bruyne anymore, so who is going to step up? Julian Alvarez was the kind of player who could have picked the ball up and pulled off something special in games like these, but they don’t have him either!

‘Erling Haaland isn’t that type of a player, he relies on people like Silva and De Bruyne for service. And I’ve always said that Jeremy Doku is a hit-and-miss, so this isn’t the dominant Manchester City we once knew.

‘City were terrible against Tottenham at the Etihad. I actually think Manchester United’s front-three can hurt them in this game.

‘I say that despite having the opinion that United will not finish in the top six this season, so you can imagine what I think of City at the moment!

‘I’m going to go for a draw but if someone told me I had to pick a winner, I would only choose Manchester United. I just don’t think Ruben Amorim’s men will lose this game.’

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