Battle for Manchester's bragging rights

THE swagger at Manchester United, missing for so much of the season, seems to have returned at last. For many of the club's frustrated fans, the sense is that the underperforming Red Devils - in seventh place after 11 matches - have regained their confidence and are ready to climb the English Premier League (EPL) table.

Two away wins in the past week - both by a 2-1 margin - have boosted morale at Old Trafford to a level not seen in months. An injury-time goal was enough to see off a resolute Bournemouth last Saturday, and that was followed by a chest-thumping victory over Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday in Turin.

This weekend, Jose Mourinho takes his players on the road once more. They don't have to travel too far, just a short bus ride down the road to play their neighbours Manchester City on Sunday (Monday, 12.30am kick-off, Singapore time) for the first Manchester derby of the 2018/19 season.