Peter Crouch makes Manchester United vs Manchester City prediction | Football

Manchester United’s attack are capable of inflicting serious damage on Manchester City but Enzo Maresca’s side will ultimately come out on top at Old Trafford.

Those are the thoughts of ex-England, Liverpool and Tottenham striker Peter Crouch, who has delivered his prediction for what promises to be a compelling derby at the Theatre of Dreams on Sunday.

United got off to a nightmare start following Michael Carrick’s permanent appointment as manager as they were consigned to a 2-0 loss at the hands of newly promoted Hull City in their opening Premier League clash.

The Red Devils bounced back with a 5-2 victory over another of the league’s new boys in Ipswich, only to drop more points in a dramatic 2-2 draw away to Everton.

Sunday’s thriller on Merseyside would have been especially painful for Carrick given the visitors had twice taken the lead in the contest before throwing away their one-goal advantage.

After conceding six times already this season, Carrick will be desperate to somehow plug the gaps in his leaky defence, with his side languishing down in 11th place heading into the weekend’s action.

City have won four on the bounce in all competitions following their Community Shield setback and sit top of the table at this embryonic stage of the campaign, above the champions Arsenal on goal difference.

Giving his thoughts on United’s chances ahead of the Manchester derby, Crouch said on That Peter Crouch Podcast: ‘I think it might be the catalyst for them really.

‘I know City have won all three but I don’t think they’ve been in top form and I think United can hurt you.

I look at [Bryan] Mbeumo, [Matheus] Cunha, [Bruno] Fernandes, [Marcus] Rashford, there’s players in there, they can hurt you.

Pressed for a score prediction, though, Crouch replied: ‘Usually for now, I would say United.

‘But it’s been biting me every week, I think I’ve been a bit too relaxed with my predictions and that’s biting me on the arse big time.

‘So I’m going to have to go 1-0 to Manchester City.’

Carrick made it clear he was less than impressed with United’s schedule in the wake of his side’s draw with Everton.

The Red Devils kick off their Champions League group-stage campaign against Azerbaijani outfit Sabah this evening, meaning Carrick’s squad have two fewer recovery days than their noisy neighbours.

‘I wouldn’t say it’s ideal in some ways but it’s not something that we’ve given too much thought about,’ the United head coach told reporters.

‘We’re not in control of that. We’ve got to deal with the cards that we’re dealt and that’s what it is. So we’ll make the most of it.’

Asked for an update on Luke Shaw, who missed open training on Wednesday, Carrick responded: ‘We just gave him an extra recovery date today. So we’ll obviously see by tomorrow how he is.

‘But it’s not an ongoing thing or a plan or anything like that. It was just off the back of the game the other day.

‘So, as normal, each individual has kind of different little things that we manage and Luke was one of them today.’

Benjamin Sesko put his hand up for selection in the derby after coming on and scoring what he may have assumed was the winning goal against Everton, before Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ late heroics.

The Slovenian hasn’t started a match since May, though, when he aggravated a pre-existing shin problem that kept him sidelined for over three months.

‘Ben is close,’ Carrick said of Sesko’s chances of starting against City.

‘He’s obviously getting closer and closer. He missed a lot

‘The Liverpool game was a long time ago and it is a long time for him to miss and we had to manage him and look after him, get him fit. 

‘He has probably trained three and a bit weeks fully with no restrictions, and I think you can see that, coming onto the pitch and getting his rhythm and it was a fantastic goal. 

‘He did an awful lot for us last season, it was nice to see him get on the end of that cross [against Everton]. So, he’s in a good place, Ben.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news onFacebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: Kevin De Bruyne makes huge Arsenal claim after Napoli’s Champions League defeat

MORE: Why six Champions League games are taking place on a Thursday

MORE: Max Allegri pinpoints what Arsenal ‘are very good at’ after making Champions League claim