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The Red Devils will be the only side among the big four to play on Saturday. Liverpool and Chelsea lock horns and Arsenal will play Blackburn Rovers at the Emirates Stadium on the last day of the week.

Sunderland analysis

The Black Cats will face a tough test away to Manchester this coming Saturday. Sunderland will enter the game fresh from last Sunday’s 5-2 victory over Wolves who were previously beaten by United that same week.

This score line reveals Sunderland’s ability to fire in front of goal thanks to strikers Bent and Jones. However, it also tells that the Black Cats need to improve defensively. They astonishingly let their controversial 2-0 lead slip away in the space of five minutes against Wolves.

Reflecting on this negative issue, Sunderland’s manager Steve Bruce mentioned:

''Defensively we have to improve because there are times when we go into meltdown. We give the ball away too often.

“We will work on it and have to get better because there is a big expectation here.”

In fact, Sunderland will not have the right to make mistakes on Saturday against Manchester United. Such things will surely leave them with nothing but punishment during the ninety minutes.

Manchester United analysis

The English Premier League defending champions are back on top of the table’s standings. Manchester United roll on to a 2-0 win last weekend thanks to two second half goals by Berbatov and O’Shea. 

Above all, the Red Devils got their inspiration through the introduction of substitute Ryan Giggs. The veteran midfielder keeps walking on the path he laid since his youth. This year again, Giggs has revealed to be an essential member in the squad and Stoke City’s Thomas Sorensen acknowledged this fact:

"He has been in a different class all through his career,

"He's clever and has the experience to avoid stupid challenges and uses his head. He

is quality."

Apart from Giggs, Manchester United’s strength in mentality also finds its root in players like Darren Fletcher. The Scotland captain expressed his individual determination to the media:

"The whole idea is to become an all-round midfielder, who can pass the ball, score goals and get the team going.

"I can be a destroyer when we don't have the ball and set a high tempo and be the trigger. When we don't have possession, I'm thinking, 'right, I'm going to be the first one to press and win it back'."

In general, we would expect a close contest on Saturday if Sunderland are able to hold on with their physical play.

A positive fact for Manchester United is that their coach, Alex Ferguson, has never lost to his former player Steve Bruce.

Marc Hughes was seconds away to clinch a rare draw against the Old Scot in this season's Mancunian derby at Old Trafford, but Michael Owen's late, late striker stole all the three points for the Red Devils.

If Manchester United can be clinical in front of goal, then they’ll certainly come out of the game as winners. At the end of the day, the Red Devils could open a three point lead at the top of the table as Chelsea, who slipped onto second last week, only play on Sunday.

 

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