LThe top four setting the early pace in the English Premier League go head to head on another mouthwatering weekend, with leaders Chelsea hosting Tottenham and United at home to City in the Manchester derby. By tomorrow night, any one of the four teams could be top of the league.
City might have preferred a more low-profile fixture after grabbing most of the headlines this week for Emmanuel Adebayor's misbehaviour during their 4-2 home win over Arsenal. That victory announced their arrival as title contenders and, if the calmness with which they took their chances against the Gunners had been matched in other ways, they could have been looking forward with some confidence to upsetting another member of the big four.
Adebayor's three-game ban for raking Robin Van Persie has, however, dealt a blow to City's hopes. Having scored in all four league games so far - three times with the opening goal - the Togo striker has been a talismanic target man. Arguably he is the standout world-class player among their summer signings - a striker who, at his best, has the power, pace and precision to succeed at any level.
Without him, City's attack has quite a bit to prove against a defence as strong as United's. Carlos Tevez has not been a prolific scorer since moving to English soccer, and in any case he is doubtful due to a knee injury.
Robinho, too, is injured, which leaves Craig Bellamy as potentially City's only available striker. Bellamy is dangerous and is one of only three City players to have scored this season, apart from Adebayor, but it is asking a lot to expect him to carry the City attack virtually single-handed. United are likely to have Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic back together at the heart of their defence, which will make them difficult to break down.
City may field as few as four of the players from the starting line-up in their last league game against United - a mere four months ago - and that factor may make reference to previous Manchester derbies somewhat redundant. For what it's worth, however, City have been narrowing the gap in recent seasons, with United winning just two of their last five home derbies (with two draws and one defeat).