Premier League fixtures preview: Manchester Derby etc.

The Premier League title chase is all but over, as Manchester City trailing leaders Manchester United by 15 points. However the clash between the cross-town rivals is undoubtedly key fixture of Matchday 32.

Hardly anyone has forgotten the heated, thrilling and beautiful Manchester derby played on the ninth of December. Rio hit by the coin, Hart challenging the pitch invader, Balo putting in yet another anonymous performance, and yes, 5 five beautiful goals, one of them scored by on-fire Robin van Persie deep into an injury time to sink the Citizens. Manchester City were just three points behind Manchester United at the top and the win could take them level on points with the leaders. That game could go either way and one can consider the result to be a breaking point of Premier League chase.

A lot has changed today: the Red Devils are few steps away from claiming the title, outstripping the second-placed Citizens by 15 points, Robin van Persie is struggling to rediscover his goal scoring form, while Mario “Why always me?” Balotelli is entertaining the public in Milan. And yet we are eagerly anticipating the game that will bring the enjoyment one can hardly find anywhere else in Premier League football.

Manchester United team news:

Sir Alex Ferguson has few injuries to deal with, with Wayne Rooney and Rafael recovering from their groin injuries.

Defensive duo Jonny Evans and Nemanja Vidic is set to be assessed by the medical staff to determine whether they are fit enough to take part in the upcoming fixture.

Robin van Persie will be surely included in the starting lineup despite his recent goal scoring drought. Ferguson claimed the Dutchman does not need a rest, stating: “Robin doesn’t need a rest that’s for sure. He is a strong lad with a great physique. It’s disappointing that he wasn’t awarded the goal at Sunderland, I can understand that because it took a wicked deflection, because the shot was fantastic. All strikers have little dry spells - you always hope it ends quickly. It is just part of being a striker.”

Manchester City team news:

Yaya Toure extended his stay at Etihad stadium until 2017, by signing a new contract worth of staggering £45 million. The player will try to prove he deserves such a lucrative deal by putting in a quality performance for the Citizens.

Silva, Nasri, Rodwell and Richards could be back in contention ahead of the Manchester derby. However they are set to undergo a medical assessment before the game.

Manchester City skipper Vincent Komoany has rallied the troops by saying: “It would be nice to challenge them [United] on their turf again,” Kompany, the City captain, said. “A derby is a derby. I don’t think we could care less about the league in that game. It is about who is going to be champions of Manchester.”

Here are other Premier League Matchday 32 fixtures:

Games played on Saturday, April 6

Reading vs Southampton
Norwich City vs Swansea City
Stoke City vs Aston Villa
West Bromwich Albion vs Arsenal

Games played on Sunday, April 7

Liverpool vs West Ham United
Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton
Chelsea vs Sunderland
Newcastle United vs Fulham
Queens Park Rangers vs Wigan Athletic