Manchester City v Manchester United: world's gaze focused on a tale of the unexpected at the Etihad Stadium

All the strengths of English football will be on display from bursts of technique to endless tribalism. There will be the two impassioned supports, filling the air with chants, including some that would make Roy “Chubby” Brown blush.

If Manchester City score, there will be a mass Poznan, the reverse line-dancing borrowed from Poland as they chase a first title in 44 years. If Manchester United score, there will be wild scenes of celebration, their followers knowing that a point or more takes them a stride closer to a 20th title. Such is the interest that the men with bulging satchels believe it will be their busiest ever match with £50 million gambled.

There will be the entertainers, the ball-users who spread sunshine across the landscape of English football.

The hosts will lay on the darting dribbles of David Silva, the predator’s stealth of Sergio Agüero and the muscling runs of Yaya Touré. The visitors will hit back with the touch and work-rate of Wayne Rooney, the flying wing-play of Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia and the passing of Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick.          Read Full