Expert Jury: United can make life hard for City in Manchester derby

We asked our top team of writers, expert fans and a leading odds-compiler for their thoughts on this week's big talking points and this is how they answered...

What is your best football bet this weekend?

Tom Hill of Leeds United TV: Southampton or draw double chance looks a solid bet with Saints bang in form under Ralph Hasenhuttl. They travel to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa, who are winless in four at home. Southampton have lost only one in six on their travels and can leave the Midlands with a share of the spoils.

Mike Long of the BoltFromTheBlue Podcast: The draw in Liverpool v West Ham. It could well be goalless at half-time but expect some drama in the second half. David Moyes's team are the closest we have to this season's dark horses and if there is one team that the Reds could drop points to, given their EFL Cup exertions, this could be it. Go for the draw - my prediction is 1-1.

Emmet O'Keeffe of Paddy Power: Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton are playing their best football of the season and pushing towards the upper reaches of mid-table. Dominant wins over Norwich and Everton were preceded by draws against both Manchester clubs and a hugely impressive victory at Tottenham. I am yet to be convinced by Aston Villa, who relied on two unlikely goals against Brighton to give Steven Gerrard his first win in seven games. According to both expected goals (xG) and my eye, Southampton look a better team than Villa and look worth a bet at 2-1 or better.

Jack Tait of the Man Utd Weekly Podcast : Under 2.5 goals in Wolves v Crystal Palace. Wolves have scored the third-fewest goals in the Premier League and have conceded the fourth-fewest. Palace, meanwhile, haven't scored more than once in a league game - other than against Watford's leaky defence - since New Year's Day. I expect a tight game with not much goalmouth action.

Who are the most vulnerable favourites?

Tom Hill: Derby County are as short as 6-5 to beat Barnsley this weekend and I think that is a little bit skinny. Both teams remain in the bottom three in the Championship but Barnsley seem to have found their feet of late. The Tykes have won three of their previous four in the second tier so there's every chance they leave Pride Park with at least a point.

Mike Long: My vote is Chelsea at Turf Moor. The club are in a period of uncertainty and just lost a close penalty shootout against Liverpool in the League Cup so morale will not be sky-high. Thomas Tuchel seems frazzled and confused so expect Sean Dyche's men to make things uncomfortable.

Emmet O'Keeffe: Chelsea look a short price given their misfiring attack and stuttering form. Reece James returned from injury against Luton on Wednesday and if he can return to his form of earlier in the season, it will enable Thomas Tuchel to play his preferred wing-back system which has malfunctioned in the absence of James and Ben Chilwell. However, with James still on the path to recovery, Chelsea could struggle to break down Sean Dyche’s Claret and Blue bus. Burnley’s form has picked up and their recent win over Tottenham at Turf Moor will give them hope of pulling off an upset.

Jack Tait: I could see Everton giving Tottenham problems. Everton's away form under Lampard hasn't been great but Spurs look susceptible to a shock given their recent form. I'd love to say Man City but, of the big six, Manchester United look the likeliest to drop points, although losing to City probably isn't considered slipping up.

How do you see the Manchester derby playing out?

Tom Hill: Manchester City have won their last two games but they seem to be struggling in the final third of late, which could mean Sunday's clash is a close battle. United will be desperate to dent City's title chances, but their defensive vulnerabilities should cost them in the end. A home win to nil appeals, while at bigger odds I'd go 1-0 or 2-0 to City.

Mike Long: United have a good recent record against us due to their ability to sit back and counter on the break. Expect a showcase goal from Cristiano Ronaldo but a City midfield of Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and Bernardo Silva should prove too much for McFred on this occasion.

Emmet O'Keeffe: I wouldn’t include Man City in weekend accumulators given United's superb recent record in this fixture and Ralf Rangnick has had a full week to prepare while City were on FA Cup duty. While United have had a kind recent fixture list, they have won the xG battle comfortably in each of their last six league matches and Rangnick has been brave enough to drop underperforming stars like Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo. City should still be too good but United are no forlorn hope to cause a shock.

Jack Tait: I think the Manchester derby will play out like many of the recent derbies at the Etihad - City will dominate the ball, United will try to shut down space in midfield and stay compact but look to be aggressive on the counter. Ultimately, I think City's quality will tell and they'll win 2-1.

What do you make of Leeds's appointment of Jesse Marsch?

Tom Hill: It's certainly a big gamble at this stage of the season. However, it seems that Leeds had identified Marsch as a potential successor this summer, so if they have done their homework, it could give them a headstart on next season as long as they are still in the Premier League. He seems confident and has similar tactics to Marcelo Bielsa, which should suit the current squad.

Mike Long: Marsch has big boots to fill. Bielsa is still loved by the Elland Road faithful. He was eccentric, charismatic and utterly dedicated. He may have been weird and idiosyncratic but he has changed expectations at Leeds and so I am not sure that the incoming coach can replace the maestro. The new man needs all the luck in the world and a good start.

Emmet O'Keeffe: I think it was the right time for a change despite Marcelo Bielsa’s exhilarating four-year reign, and Marsch’s style of play is similar to that of the Argentinian so Leeds's players shouldn’t take much time to adapt. Marsch failed at Leipzig, where his precocious predecessor Julian Nagelsmann proved a hard act to follow, but before that, had done excellent jobs in the MLS and Austria. The Premier League is clearly a step up in class but I admire Leeds for sticking to a philosophy of high pressing, front-foot football rather than appointing Roy Hodgson or Sam Allardyce.

Jack Tait: Marsch at Leeds is an exciting appointment. A young coach with a growing reputation and some good past experience. Closely associated with Ralph Rangnick, I expect him to implement many of the principles that Rangnick often talks about. The first month is huge for him, including games against Watford and Norwich.

Give us a winner on the midweek coupon

Tom Hill: Promotion-chasing Bournemouth welcome Peterborough to the south coast in midweek in what should be a routine home win for the Cherries. Grant McCann's side are likely to be on their way back to League One, and after failing to score in three of their last five away matches, they should come unstuck without troubling the scoresheet against Scott Parker's side.

Mike Long: Expect Liverpool to see off Inter. Liverpool hit two morale-sapping goals in Milan to give them a great psychological boost, although Inter played very well until the latter stages of the first leg. The most interesting tie from a British perspective is United v Atletico, which looks an intriguing match-up.

Emmet O'Keeffe: Real Madrid. The market may have overreacted to Paris St-Germain's dominant 1-0 first-leg victory when Carlo Ancelotti parked the bus in the Parc de Princes. There are reasons to believe the second leg will be different with Karim Benzema now fully fit and Neymar returning to the PSG starting lineup. PSG are a better team without their Brazilian superstar with Angel Di Maria providing more workrate and balance to their front three. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see PSG wilt in front of a red-hot atmosphere at the Bernabeu and Real look worth chancing.

Jack Tait: I'll take the easy route and say Bayern Munich to go through. There's not much value to be had there though, so I'd consider Serge Gnabry to score at any time. Expect Salzburg to focus on removing the threat of Robert Lewandowski, which should leave more opportunities for Bayern's other forwards.

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