10 November,2010 08:45 AM IST | | PA Sport
Intensity of the manchester derby has exploded in recent years, says Fergie
Alex Ferguson may still regard Manchester United's meetings with Liverpool as a derby of "honour" but even he accepts the intensity surrounding duels with City has exploded in recent years.
It means Ferguson's old adage of Liverpool being United's true derby-day opposition no longer applies. With Sheikh Mansour's wealth at their disposal, City are now a greater threat to their neighbours' aspirations that the old foe from Merseyside.
And with the likes of Carlos Tevez around to stir the pot as well, there will be plenty of heat to keep a capacity crowd warm tonight.
"The Liverpool game is one of honour in terms of trophies won," outlined Ferguson. "Liverpool edge it in European Cups, we edge it in FA Cups and World Championships.
"We are undoubtedly the two most successful clubs in British football. "Now the meetings with City are ones of great intensity, which is built up by the media explosion around what they are doing and what they are trying to achieve.
"The fact we are both in the same city means there is an incredible intensity in this derby game now, which was not there 10 or 15 years ago."
Yet, for the huge amount of petro-cash that has poured into the Blues camp from Abu Dhabi, it is still United who hold sway.
They were the ones who emerged victorious in three of four meetings last term, including the Carling Cup semi-final, and are leading the pursuit of Chelsea just now, three points ahead of Roberto Mancini's men.
Indeed, had it not been for their weekend win at West Brom, City would be heading into the contest weakened by renewed speculation over their manager's position, undermining the plans Mancini is trying to put in place and placing question marks over the belief money will eventually drive the Eastlands outfit to the top of the pile.
"It is difficult to say whether it is inevitable they are eventually going to win the league," said Ferguson.
"Obviously, in many people's eyes, having the money is a lot better than not but this is still a difficult league to win. City recognise that themselves."
Mancini vs Ferguson
With loads of international talent lining up for both the red and blue halves of Manchester, team selection will be the biggest telling factor in the game.
While the Reds are battling a virus condition, City face a selection dilemma. Both coaches have loads of experience but will need to think out of the box to go one better.
The Scot and the Italian are already at loggerheads in the build up to the match, desperate for full three points and not just bragging rights.
Key clashes
Nemanja Vidic vs Carlos Tevez
Vidic will have the toughest job on the night, that of marking City's captain and his former teammate Carlos Tevez. Tevez has an amazing work ethic and will work his socks off like in any other game. Vidic will have to be at his best to handle the Argentine who has a reputation of coming alive in the big games.
Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez vs Kolo Toure
Benefiting from Rooney's absence, Chicharito has made a habit of scoring important goals. City will look to Toure to neutralise any threat the young Mexican offers. With Berbatov playing alongside Chicharito, the experienced ex-Arsenal defender will surely have his hands full.u00a0
u00a0
Paul Scholes vs Yaya Toure
Scholes shows no signs of fading with age and is United's best bet to open the game upu00a0 from midfield. Kolo Toure's brother and hard tackling midfielder Yaya Toure will have to work hard to ensure United's midfield
orchestrator does not find the right tune.
