Manchester United vs Manchester City: A match that wasn’t worth watching until just recently, these two Prem sides stationed in the gritty North West of her Majesty’s island meet for a clash of now top-sides this afternoon. That is quite a run-on, but you’re not really reading this anyway. So drawn are you to the taunting image of Carlos Tévez unveiled by City as a billboard outside their stadium upon signing the Argentine marksman last season.

Obviously El Apache had been in Manchester before his Sky Blues transfer, but the City board thought it a good idea to stir the pot, and Sir Alex didn’t take kindly. He’s hit back this week suggesting City have no history and no chance at the win, though his whole team appears to be out with a virus. From the mouth of the manager:

“I don’t know what created that – probably some advertising gimmick – but I don’t think they can be proud of it. I don’t see how they thought that would get more points off us as opposed to playing against us on a football pitch. I said at the time I thought it was stupid and they probably think that themselves now. I think it was probably worthwhile for maybe some of their supporters, but not all of them. Others will have been embarrassed. If you ask their supporters I think they would prefer to see a trophy paraded through the city before they start getting carried away like that.

“I mean, there was one City fan who put a tattoo around his body saying ‘European Cup winners’. People get carried away. Unfortunately supporters are just as bad as directors. But I think a lot of their supporters would probably prefer to see a trophy paraded before they start screaming from the rooftops.”

There are some other sub-plots, notably Chicharito’s revenge fantasy against Tevez due to Argentina’s defeat of Mexico this past summer, and of course Man City’s attempt at poaching Rooney a couple weeks back. Should be an exciting encounter.