Manchester derby: 3 reasons City will defeat United
Almost four years ago to the day, Manchester City embarrassed its great rival Manchester United with a 6-1 scoreline in the Red Devils' own backyard, recognised by the Etihad Stadium faithful as the time their side became the most prominent in the old Cottonopolis.
Including that match, City has won six of the last nine meetings between the two teams, and over that span, has plundered three trophies to United's one.
This season, Manuel Pellegrini's outfit remains the strongest in Manchester.
Here are three reasons why Manchester City will defeat Manchester United:
Manchester United's full-backs
In early October, Antonio Valencia stormed down the pitch for Ecuador and left a host of Argentinians in his wake before laying a perfect pass onto goal-scorer Felipe Caicedo.
It's that kind of play that earned him a move to Old Trafford from Wigan in 2009.
But in recent times at club level, Tony V has been reimagined as a distinctly average right-back, and if City doubles up that flank with Aleksandar Kolarov and Raheem Sterling, he could be embarrassed - especially if they cut inside and expose Valencia's non-existent left foot.
On the other side is Marcos Rojo. The former Sporting Lisbon man seemed to have lost the trust of manager Louis van Gaal, but he has now been thrust into the left-back berth in Luke Shaw's absence.
Against the pacey Jesus Navas - the weaker man in City's attack, but one who put in a fine performance midweek against Sevilla - Rojo will have to be on his toes for the whole match.
Kevin De Bruyne
Related: Kevin De Bruyne's impact unparalleled in City's rich era
Much has been made of how City will fare with Sergio Aguero and David Silva unavailable.
Last weekend Bournemouth didn't really test City's depleted frontline, and allowed a Raheem Sterling hat trick and Wilfried Bony brace thanks to some leaden-footed defending from the Cherries.
City was tested in Wednesday's Champions League action, and was outdone by Sevilla for long periods. However, when Kevin De Bruyne was thrust forward into a free role, the Citizens were in the ascendancy.
He single-handedly pulled City over the line, seeming to cover every blade of grass, displaying incredible decision-making, and scoring a goal that showed both his composure and the accuracy with which he strikes a football.
The Belgian is the No. 1 danger man on Sunday.
City's plan B, and C, and D...
One of Manchester City's issues over the past few years has been predictability. If Aguero and Silva weren't producing the goods, there was only one plan B: release Yaya Toure.
Somebody would slot deeper in the midfield to allow Toure to make his trademark bursts forward. It worked excellently in the 2013-14 campaign, when he was a one-man wrecking machine and tallied 20 goals - only the second midfielder to do so in the Premier League after Frank Lampard.
Toure has lost the some of the ferocity in his surges, so City needed more options.
The summer signings of Sterling and De Bruyne mean City now has a legion of players that could play across the frontline. Both newcomers have played as centre-forward, on the flanks, and behind the striker.
When Aguero and Silva return, facing the Citizens' attack is even more frightening.
But for now, the continued brilliance of Sterling and De Bruyne should be enough for City to defeat its hated rival.