City have stuttered in recent weeks, first throwing away a 2-0 lead against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League before two domestic defeats on the bounce, to West Ham in the league and Newcastle in the Capital One Cup – losing their League Cup crown in the process.

Manchester United are yet to get fans purring this season and life-long fan Alwyn Payne is commemorating the team’s poor form with a series of animal-inspired images of the new boss.

Ahead of Manchester derby, MM analyse City and United players head to head

When Manchester City were bought out in 2008, Sir Alex Ferguson made a point of reasserting Manchester United’s dominance by completing the double over their local rivals.

City take on Alan Pardew’s Newcastle United in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup at The Etihad ahead of Sunday’s game against Manchester United.

Manchester City’s top five victories over their rivals Manchester United have mostly come in the Premier League era, but Denis Law gave them one famous victory too.

Flashback: look back as Shaun Goater scored twice in Manchester City’s farewell derby victory over Man United at Maine Road in Novemeber 2002

City are on the brink of Champions League elimination while the Premier League already seems destined for London pacesetters Chelsea

A Manchester entrepreneur will be hoping his latest idea doesn’t sink as he looks to raise funds for a new form of taxi, which will launch onto the city’s canals.

United continued their four-match unbeaten streak thanks to Van Persie’s 93rd minute leveller against José Mourinho’s title favourites at Old Trafford on Sunday to remain 10 points behind the leaders

Dutch manager Van Gaal labelling last week’s 2-2 draw at the Hawthorns United’s best performance of the season will not have inspired confidence ahead of a tough month, starting with Chelsea on Sunday