A hulking presence may be the trump card for Manchester City today against Manchester United

A hulking presence may be the trump card for Manchester City today against Manchester United Erling Haaland has sprung to life for Manchester City in the past three matches they have played. Haaland has scored five goals and his performance in Manchester City’s most recent win against FC Porto was the powerful striker at his best. Haaland bagged a brace and his overall display was superb. He went above and beyond for his team with his willingness to get back to help his team and his goals decided the match at the Estádio do Dragão. Heading into today’s Manchester derby, Erling Haaland could be Manchester City’s trump card against arch-rivals Manchester United. Erling Haaland looms over today’s Manchester derby as he is so often does. Manchester City have the ultimate trump card in any match they play in Erling Haaland. The Norwegian international is the world’s best pure number nine and his sheer presence often unsettles Manchester City’s opponents. Teams have to prepare to contain Haaland and if they get it wrong Haaland can wreak havoc with his goal scoring. Also, Haaland’s presence creates openings for his teammates which is often an understated component of Haaland’s play. This season, Enzo Maresca seems to have made a strong effort to get Haaland more involved in games. Manchester City are set up to create chances for Haaland and they are often looking to get him in behind opponents more so than they did under Pep Guardiola. In the past three games, Haaland has scored five goals, three coming from headers off crosses from out wide. If Manchester City can create chances for Haaland today against Manchester United, it may well be their path to victory. Haaland is in strong form. However, he has missed chances against Coventry City and FC Porto. At some point, Haaland will bury those as well. From a Manchester City point of view, today would be the ideal day for Haaland to be razor sharp in front of goal. If he is, he could well decide the 199th Manchester derby. In terms of the one player who looms largest over today’s clash between City and Manchester United, it is Erling Haaland who stands head and shoulders above every other player based on what he could do at Old Trafford today. Erling Haaland has fired for Manchester City in previous derbies and his record in them shows the threat he poses. Manchester United have been on the receiving end of Haaland’s devastation in past derbies. Haaland has scored eight goals in ten matches against City’s arch-rivals. Manchester derbies are an occasion that Haaland thrives in. Today’s match is a big match between two arch-rivals as they always are. Hopefully, from a City point of view, their Norwegian wrecking ball fire in hostile territory. Erling Haaland could well be Manchester City’s trump card at Old Trafford. He so often is and he enters today’s match in top goal-scoring form. Haaland is also a leader for his team, so no doubt he will be desperate to help lead his team to a derby triumph in what looms as another tough early examination for Enzo Maresca’s side.