Manchester derby: Three City weaknesses that Jose Mourinho's United can exploit on Sunday

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“If we can, at the right moment, cause them problems, then hopefully we might find we are not getting all the pressure,” David Moyes said in the days before his West Ham United side visited Manchester City last weekend, presumably over the top of some sniggering at the back of the room. “I think they have frailties.”

Moyes was right, though. His relegation-threatened side went ahead then almost held the runaway Premier League leaders, who for the third time in their last three top flight games, required a late winner to take all three points.

Pep Guardiola's sky blue juggernaut has shown little sign of veering off course, but it has slowed a little and if any other side stands a chance of stopping them, it is their neighbours and nearest challengers Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho's side host City at Old Trafford today in the first Manchester derby of the season and despite unbeaten record at home stretching back 40 matches, United will start as underdogs. The consensus is that if there is to be a title race this season, they need to close City’s eight-point lead at the top down to five with a win.

The problem is, as this illuminating study by Euan Dewer and Mark Thompson suggested, City might just be a team for the ages. Their strengths are numerous, their weaknesses are few and we may witness something special this season.

How, exactly, do United compete with that?

Sadio Mané’s sending off for a high kick on Ederson at the Etihad in September was a correct call, but with every three points that Manchester City pick up, it seems a greater shame that it happened.

At that point, City were a goal ahead against Liverpool through Sergio Aguero but they looked seriously suspect against both Mané and Mohamed Salah, with the Egyptian winger causing Nicolas Otamendi untold problems.

After Mané’s red though, Jürgen Klopp withdrew Salah and without the injured Philippe Coutinho to call on either, his side collapsed to a 5-0 thrashing. It was very much a case of what might have been, for Liverpool and for those who want to know how to compete with this City.

United are not the counter-attacking force of nature that Liverpool can be at their best, but Mourinho’s men have scored the second highest number of goals on the break in the top flight. City’s style, meanwhile, leaves space to attack, particularly when in the full-back zones.

Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford are all capable of exposing the space Guardiola’s style leaves open. If United can beat City’s press and catch them on the counter, like Liverpool did before Mané’s red card, they could prosper.

If space left in behind is City’s one obvious weakness, it is the only one. Many believe they have stumbled upon others, however, noting a recent susceptibility on set pieces and United’s superior physicality.

It is true that Guardiola’s squad is the shortest in the Premier League at an average of 179.4cm (5ft 8in). United’s squad averages 184.5cm (6ft 0in). It is also true that City have conceded several chances from dead ball situations recently.

At Huddersfield, Christopher Schindler ghosted in at the front post and forced an own goal from Otamendi. Maya Yoshida went close for Southampton after a set-play and Angelo Ogbonna’s opener last weekend was a header from a well-worked short corner.

That is a three-game sample, though. Take in the whole season to date, all 15 games, and City’s defence has been excellent at preventing shots from corners and free-kicks this season: the Premier League’s best, in fact.

Then consider how, despite having the league’s smallest squad, City have won more of their aerial duels than any other Premier League side, claiming the ball 58.1 per cent of the time. United have the next best record (55.4 per cent), but remain some way off being as effective as City in the air.

The height difference is there, as is recent evidence of City conceding chances from set plays. However, if United are to take advantage of these factors, they need to overcome a couple of season-long statistics that remain in City’s favour.

Guardiola has built a reputation as a specialist in rotation. Just ask Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus, who often split time on the pitch between them. Even after all his goal-scoring heroics this season, Raheem Sterling never seems guaranteed to start.

Guardiola does have his favourites, though – namely the two players who make this team tick, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva. Both will play at Old Trafford on Sunday. De Bruyne has started every Premier League game this season, Silva all but one.

Neither travelled to the Ukraine for the Champions League dead rubber against Shakhtar Donetsk, so both will be rested, but at this hectic time of the year fatigue could take its toll. Silva suffering a slight and unspecified injury was a reminder that Guardiola cannot run his two creative midfielders into the ground.

Team-wide, there is the question of how the recent late victories have affected City. Three games in eight days suddenly made an all-conquering side look tired. Having got used to sweeping opponents aside before the hour mark, Guardiola’s players were made to work for their wins and while scoring at the death is a good habit, it is not often a sustainable one.

If United can take City down to the wire again, there may be no late winner this time.