Is Manchester City vs. Manchester United still a real rivalry?

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All eyes will be on Manchester this weekend as the city’s derby pits red versus blue.

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But, the big question is: Should they be?

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Of course, within the city of Manchester this match will always be a big deal — much the way Bristol Rovers vs. Bristol City might be in Bristol.

But beyond the scope of the city, does anyone else care? Maybe a smidge in Liverpool or North London, where they’re hoping Manchester United can summon up a serious challenge and pinch points off City to impact the title race.

But, even then, the expectations of anything other than a City win will be fantasy more than reality.

Yes, United still is the bigger club, by far, in terms of global fan base, historical success and market share and this is still the FUBO Game of the Week when you look at the schedule. But City, regardless of how it has achieved its current dominance, is head and shoulders above its rivals.

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A current four-match winning streak may have tricked some into believing United were ascending, but last week’s loss to Fulham at home was a more accurate painting of where United is as a club — mid-table at best, miles behind the Champions League standard and nowhere near winning the league.

Could United conjure up a result? It’s not impossible, but certainly unlikely. City has scored 59 goals this season, United 36. City has given up 26, United 36. I’ll save you the math, City’s goal difference is plus-33, United’s is a flat zero.

City has taken 84 more shots in league matches than United and has had 54 more shots on target than their red neighbours.

It’s fair to say that United still is a work in progress, but considering the massive recent investment by bringing in Sir Jim Ratcliffe with a 25% ownership stake, the instability at United is only growing with rumours of 10 first-team players he wants to get rid off — and wanting to bring in his own manager.

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This leaves beleaguered bench boss Erik Ten Hag to flutter along as a lame duck, biting back at media criticism and making excuse after excuse for players that, beyond all else, just don’t match the work rate of their opponents.

Eight points out of the Champions League spots, it would seem that United will coast to the end of the season and then start yet another rebuild with a new manager. They have one shot left at a trophy, after beating Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the FA Cup in midweek they’ve been drawn against Liverpool in the quarterfinals.

2. Are Liverpool’s Kindergarten Klopp setting up a golden generation?

Jurgen Klopp’s leaning on youth players from his academy was to some degree forced due a ridiculous string of injuries, but there’s no doubt his trust in his young players and his focus on building a productive academy has paid off magnificently.

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Liverpool won the first trophy of the season last weekend, beating Chelsea 1-0 in extra time. Liverpool was missing Alisson Becker, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez going into the match.

In the first half, the Reds lost Ryan Gravenberch to a ligament injury following a shocking, unpunished studs-up challenge by Moises Caicedo, and fellow midfielder Wataru Endo also left the stadium on crutches and in a walking boot.

Klopp relied on a heavy dose of academy players to finish the game, remarkably, deservedly winning the trophy.

There’s no doubt for Klopp that the Premier League is the priority. They hold the slimmest of leads over Manchester City at just one point and are two points ahead of Arsenal.

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Liverpool hosts City on March 10 and it’s clear their top stars, in particular Salah, Nunez and Szoboszlai won’t be risked ahead of that game.

So, when they played Southampton in the FA Cup on Wednesday, the youthful lineup from the Carabao Cup final was even younger. Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah, Bobby Clark, James McConnell, Harvey Elliott and Lewis Koumas are all under 21 and all started.

Koumas, 18, scored his first goal in his first senior appearance for the club. Jayden Danns, who one week ago hadn’t played a single minute with the first team, came off the bench to score twice as the 18 year old rounded out the 3-0 win.

They also brought on 16-year-old Trey Nyoni for his debut.

Not all of these kids will make it at Liverpool. While it has been a fairytale start for them, the law of averages suggests some won’t make the grade long term.

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But some will. And in this age where an average English star can easily cost more than $85 million, giving academy kids the chance to make the grade is not only a great story, but saves truckloads of money.

3. Is Everton safe?

The Toffees had their 10-point reduction for financial penalties reduced to six. Those four reclaimed points have given them a nice, soft cushion of five points above the relegation zone. However, they are under further investigation, along with Nottingham Forest, and many believe they’ll suffer further deductions. How much obviously will be crucial. Burnley and Sheffield United are sunk — they look so poor week after week, there’s no escaping relegation for them. But depending on the amount of any future deduction, Everton and Forest, along with Luton, Brentford, Bournemouth and even Crystal Palace, are going to have to start to bring some results to escape that last relegation spot.

This weekend’s slate

SATURDAY: Brentford v. Chelsea; Everton v. West Ham; Fulham v. Brighton; Newcastle v. Wolves; Nottingham Forest v. Liverpool; Tottenham v. Crystal Palace; Luton v. Aston Villa.

SUNDAY: Burnley v. Bournemouth; Manchester City v. Manchester United.

MONDAY: Sheffield United v. Arsenal.

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