This evening there is a very important derby match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the City of Manchester Stadium. City have lost four out of five of their last games in all competitions, United have won five out of their last five. Form won’t matter; games between the two teams are unpredictable and nerve-racking.

Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated his 24th anniversary as Manchester United manager at the weekend. Manchester City have had 14 permanent managers at Man City since Sir Alex was appointed on the 6th November 1986. None of them have been as successful with the City failing to win a trophy in 34 years.

The clubs played each other four times last season, twice in the league and twice in the League Cup semi-finals. In three of those games Man United scored three very late goals, which insured United took all six points in the league and a late Wayne Rooney goal made sure that United would be in the Carling Cup final, which United went on to win.

Manchester United have a long list of injured or ill players, so much so that manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said that he has “no idea” who will be able to play tonight. Dimitar Berbatov, Anderson, Jonny Evans, Michael Carrick, Patrice Evra, Darren Fletcher, Darron Gibson, Federico Macheda, Paul Scholes, Nemanja Vidic and Ryan Giggs have all been suffering from a virus. Evans is out as he is also injured; Giggs has also trying to recover in time from a hamstring injury.

Luis Nani is extremely doubtful with a groin problem, Wayne Rooney also will not play as he is still out in America. Owen Hargreaves is missing after picking up a hamstring injury at the weekend; he is expected to be out for another five weeks. Finally, United are still without long-term absentees Antonio Valencia and Michael Owen.

City will be without the suspended Mario Ballotelli, who was shown a red card at the weekend against West Brom. Emmanuel Adebayor is rated as doubtful after picking up a slight calf problem in training. Both Michael Johnson and Alex Nimely are both suffering with injuries.

There have been a total of 155 matches played between the two teams. Manchester United have won 64 times, there have been 49 draws, which leave City with 42 wins to their name.

The referee who will officiate the game is Chris Foy. He’s already refereed two games involving United this season; the first was on the opening weekend when United beat Newcastle 3-0 at Old Trafford. More recently he was in charge of the 0-0 draw against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. So far this season Foy has not officiated any matches involving Man City.

The other title contenders Chelsea and Arsenal are also in action tonight. Fulham travel to the Stamford Bridge to play the league leaders and Arsenal travel to Molineux to play Wolves.