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Manchester derby preview: Can United upset the odds? Can Ronaldo get back to form? And who makes our combined XI

Author: Sky Sports March 3, 2022 Duration: 35:59

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Sky Sports FC from Sky Sports is the daily football debate where your voice matters. Each weekday, the team dives into the biggest stories in soccer, reacting to breaking news, transfer sagas, tactical talking points and the moments everyone is arguing about. Expect sharp analysis, strong opinions and lively discussion on everything from the Premier League to the world stage, with insight drawn straight from the live Sky Sports News show. This is the place to listen episodes that keep you fully up to speed, whether you are commuting, at work or catching up after the final whistle. Every podcast edition brings you right into the conversation, echoing the energy and passion of fans everywhere. If you love talking football, this podcast is your home for informed discussion, fresh reaction and nonstop coverage of the sport you care about most.

In the latest Football Essential Podcast, host Ron Walker is joined by Sky Sports senior football journalist Charlotte Marsh, Sky Sports News' Ben Ransom and Sky Sports Football data editor Adam Smith ahead of a weekend where the eyes of the Premier League will be on Manchester.

PART ONE | How do Manchester United turn the tide from such a woeful defeat at Old Trafford earlier in the season – and how does Cristiano Ronaldo get back into form? Could this be a ‘statement win’ for City, and perhaps a ‘statement performance’ from £100m man Jack Grealish too? Then again, could Riyad Mahrez prove the difference?

PART TWO | Who needs the victory more? Will Manchester United’s April, facing City and Liverpool, hold the keys to the title race, and will they make it into the top four? Can City lift the treble, and are they better placed than Liverpool to rack up a trophy haul this season? Plus, our combined XI – including one big absentee.

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