It’s been a long time since Manchester City have been worthy of their somewhat insulting moniker of noisy neighbours, but when they face Manchester United on Sunday in the English Premier League it will be a case of stopping the rot. Kick-off is at 6.30pm SA time.
City have won six of the last seven league titles on offer, but have fallen to lows this season that were more characteristic of times gone by when they were the second best team in Manchester.
City crashed to their seventh defeat in their last 10 matches in all competitions when they lost 2-0 to Juventus in their Champions League clash in midweek.
It’s left City coach Pep Guardiola scurrying to find a way to beat their old foes in the Manchester derby on Sunday.
Everything matters
"In our jobs we always want to do our best. When that doesn't happen you are more uncomfortable than when the situation is going well," said Guardiola.
”In good moments I am happier but when I get to the next game I am still concerned about what I have to do.
"There is no human being that makes an activity and it doesn't matter how they do.”
Despite their poor run this season, City still find themselves in fourth place on the log with 27 points after 15 matches. Liverpool top the table on 35 points but have a game in hand.
United, meanwhile, have fallen to much greater depths as they are in 13th place with 19 points from 15 games.
Their poor results this season saw coach Erik ten Hag shown the door, before Ruben Amorim took charge on November 11.
Since then, Amorim has led the team to one draw, three wins and two losses across all competitions.
When Amorim was asked if it was a good time to be playing City, he said: "I never think about these things. We will face a great opponent and I'm more focused on our problems, so we have a lot of issues here.
"I'm more focused on what we should do on Sunday to win the game, so I'm really focused on my team."