Chris Sutton’s Premier League Prediction for Manchester City vs. Manchester United

Chris Sutton is providing predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, featuring various guests. For week 16, he is joined by darts player Stephen Bunting, a Liverpool supporter. Sutton predicts a 3-1 scoreline. He notes a significant downturn in Manchester City’s performance, particularly their inability to secure clean sheets, having achieved only one in their last 10 games. Manager Pep Guardiola has also expressed feelings of tiredness. While this comment was made in the context of not having the energy to start at another club, Sutton suggests it could also convey a message to his current players. He questions whether Guardiola, if genuinely tired, possesses the necessary energy to reverse City’s current trajectory, deeming it a potential concern given their recent form. Meanwhile, at Manchester United, new manager Ruben Amorim has recently arrived, and club owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has publicly described the team as “mediocre.” Although Amorim defeated City in his final match managing Sporting before moving to Old Trafford, which initially excited United fans, they have since observed that the team’s struggles persist against competent opponents, mirroring their performance under Erik ten Hag. Acknowledging the poor form of both teams, Sutton reflects on his past predictions for Manchester derbies, where he typically favored City. Despite Amorim’s previous victory over City with Sporting, Sutton points out that City could have been several goals ahead by halftime in that particular game. Consequently, he predicts a home win for City, suggesting it might help rejuvenate Pep Guardiola before Christmas. Sutton highlights a statistic: Manchester United did not lose three consecutive league games in over two years under Erik ten Hag, but he notes that Amorim would achieve this unwanted record in less than a month if United are defeated in this match. Bunting’s prediction is 2-1. He anticipates a cautious match with a narrow margin due to City’s current poor form.