Seldom has a derby taken on a greater significance than the one that will occur in the Manchester City vs Manchester United live encounter in the aptly named City of Manchester Stadium. While it will not be the first time that the two clubs have come head to head - the derby is now into its 159th edition - the rise of the former means the clash carries with it even greater reward, or risk, depending on the result relative to either. Win or lose however, logic and the form book will be flung out the window as passion takes centre stage in the rivalry.
Ask any City fan who they would want to beat the most each and every season and the answer would emphatically be Manchester United. The Red Devils are the only team the Citizens have to get one over and whatever happens the rest of the year would be acceptable for their fans. Afterall, they have lived through several lifetimes of underachievement and disappointment can be replaced by local bragging rights.
The financial emergence of Manchester City is slowly seeing that attitude give way to greater demands. Not just from fans but also from a club owner who has taken on huge investments to lift the club out of its doldrums. In particular, this season has seen the club spend close to 200 million pounds in order to challenge English football's established order. Failure to reach the publicly stated goal of Champions League football for next season would surely see heads rolling when the season comes to its conclusion.
The situation at Manchester United is more of a given than an expectation. Ever since the club's gradual reinvention under the stewardship of Sir Alex Ferguson, a team better known for being the most popular in the world is also now one of the most successful on the pitch, both domestically, in Europe and perhaps, globally. So much so that the season will be deemed a failure if the Red Devils end with only the Carling Cup to show for their effort.
Which brings us to the focus of the 159th Manchester derby that both teams dare not lose. Past derbies have usually carried greater relevance for United's fortune but this time, neither club can afford not to win. It would be a nightmare for the one that comes off the pitch defeated. Even a draw would not suit either club as it would be considered two points dropped rather than one gained.
Manchester City will be driven by the enthusiastic running of their marquee signing - Carlos Tevez. Once a Red Devil, Tevez made the trek across the Manchester divide at the risk of infuriating his once adoring United fans, but not without reason. There will be extra spice to the encounter with Tevez eager to put one over Ferguson after the United manager publicly ridiculed the player for not justifying the 20 million pounds his agent demanded for him to sign on permanently for the Old Trafford outfit. It could yet come back to haunt Ferguson with Tevez having scored more than 20 goals in a season which could end in glory for both himself and City as they inch closer to their aim of a Champions League appearance next season. Fulfilling the latter could mean a new era of success for the club that has lived far too long in United's shadow.
Old Trafford has been witness to much gloom over the last two weeks ever since Wayne Rooney turned on his ankle. His enforced absence has left Manchester United stunned after an exit from the Champions League quarterfinals, while their title challenge has been hit hard without Rooney's goals. The over reliance on Rooney might be clear for all to see, but for Ferguson, Rooney's return could not have been better timed with four matches to go in the Premier League. Manchester United now have a four point gap to make up on Chelsea, and to do so in the Manchester City vs Manchester United live derby by beating their neighbours would be especially sweet.
