‘Rooney to play pivotal role’ – Three key stats ahead of Thursday’s Manchester derby

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7 – Honours even at the Etihad Stadium

Ever since Manchester City started playing their football at the Etihad Stadium back in 2002, there’s been no separating the two great Manchester rivals in terms of results.

Seven wins for City are matched by seven wins for United (plus one draw) and is an appropriate reflection of just how close they are in the battle for the top four spots going into Thursday’s match.

Last season it was an even younger Marcus Rashford who scored the only goal of the game in a United victory, and Thursday’s clash is set to be just as tight and cagey with so much riding on it.

It’s perhaps apt then that this record is in keeping with the current season, with Manchester City gaining bragging rights with a win at Old Trafford in the league before Juan Mata’s effort helped United see their way past City in the EFL Cup on their way to eventually winning the competition.

With neither side being able to afford to realistically lose, it could turn into a tactical chess match with two of the greatest managerial tacticians at the helm; as they phrase goes, who dares wins.