+0.45 points a game is the venue form gap, in Manchester United's favour: Manchester United takes 2.25 a game at home over the last two seasons, Manchester City 1.80 away.
Manchester United: 41 league matches in the bank, 3 from this season and the rest from last season. Manchester City: 41 league matches in the bank, 3 from this season and the rest from last season.
The question this step asks
Step two is HOME AND AWAY FORM -- the home side judged on its home record, the away side on its away record, because those are the records that will be on the pitch. The last five reach back into last season where this season is too young to answer, and say so.
The two sides
Manchester United -- at home
Its record at the relevant venue
This season at home: won 1, drew 0, lost 0 of 1, scoring 5 and conceding 2. Last season at home: won 13, drew 3, lost 3 of 19, scoring 39 and conceding 24 -- 2.21 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: drew with Everton 2-2 away; beat Ipswich Town 5-2 at home; lost to Hull City 0-2 away; beat Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 away; beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 at home. The last 2 of these are from last season.
The dugout
The banked record belongs to the club, not one man: 2 different managers took its 40 matches with one recorded (20, 20 apiece), most recently Michael Carrick with 20. Who picks the team today is not yet recorded this season, so a summer change of manager would not show in these figures.
Manchester City -- away
Its record at the relevant venue
This season away: won 1, drew 0, lost 0 of 1, scoring 4 and conceding 1. Last season away: won 9, drew 6, lost 4 of 19, scoring 32 and conceding 21 -- 1.74 points a game.
Its last five league matches
Newest first: beat Coventry City 1-0 at home; beat Crystal Palace 4-1 away; beat AFC Bournemouth 2-1 at home; lost to Aston Villa 1-2 at home; drew with AFC Bournemouth 1-1 away. The last 2 of these are from last season.
The dugout
The banked record belongs to the club, not one man: 3 different managers took its 41 matches with one recorded (37, 3, 1 apiece), most recently Enzo Maresca with 3. Who picks the team today is not yet recorded this season, so a summer change of manager would not show in these figures.
Built 21:07 from matches completed before
kick-off. Every figure is an observed count with its denominator —
not a forecast, and nothing here is a tip or a selection.