Paul Merson names two Man City players among Premier League's top five midfielders

Manchester United fans have taken aim at Erik ten Hag's team selection after the Reds went behind early on against Manchester City at the Etihad.

It seems most pundits are predicting a comfortable win for Manchester City over Manchester United in this Sunday’s derby.

PSG megastar Lionel Messi left Premier League winning goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel stranded with an inch-perfect free-kick - with the advertising boards providing the perfect backdrop. The 35-year-old has been back to his unplayable best at the start of his second season in France after leaving Barcelona - and netted his seventh goal of the season on Saturday evening.Messi stood over the 22-yard set-piece looking to break the deadlock after 28 minutes of action at the Parc des Princes - and did just that by caressing the ball over the wall and into the back of the net with aplomb. READ MORE: Lionel Messi ‘to snub PSG contract and leave on free transfer in summer' With former Leicester City stopper Schmeichel left rooted as the ball hit the back of the net, the advertising boards displayed a fitting message.Purely by chance, the electronic media rotated from AutoHero to GOAT as Messi struck the ball, with GOAT being a high-quality clothing brand than sponsor their shirt sleeves.Not only has Messi's perfect free-kick been praised by Twitter users, but many also spotted the background message and hailed the seven-time Ballon d'Or winning Argentina icon. Tell us what makes Lionel Messi the greatest of all time in the comments section below. One fan said in response: "The greatest to ever do it, how anyone can say anybody else."With a second adding: "The advertising boards say it all."A third continued: "Messi is so unbelievable at the game he makes me laugh."With a fourth concluding: "The way the advertising board changes to 'GOAT' when the ball leaves his foot."Messi, who has also managed eight assist in all competitions, helped PSG to a 2-1 victory over a Nice side that also included Aaron Ramsey and Ross Barkley.After

Manchester City are likely to rip up Erling Haaland’s contract and give him a new one - if he continues to plunder goals at such a prolific rate.With 11 goals from his opening six Premier League games, the Norwegian ace is on course to break all sorts of scoring records this season.And should he maintain that sizzling form, it will put him in line for a pay rise at the Etihad as reward for a stunning debut campaign in England.READ MORE: Erling Haaland considered Liverpool move but didn't even think about Man Utd transferCity have made a habit of doing that in recent years in order to protect top names from becoming transfer targets for rivals, home and abroad, who offer bigger basic salaries.Ederson, Aymeric Laporte, Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias are among those to benefit from a bumper pay rise at the end of a brilliant first year with Pep Guardiola’s outfit.Haaland, 22, already pockets £375,000 weekly, making him the club’s joint highest earner alongside Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne .But a source close to the English champions insisted not to rule out an improved contract extension for the forward next May.Boosting the ex-Borussia Dortmund man’s lucrative package of bonuses and add-ons is another option for the City hierarchy if reluctant to break their basic pay structure at the Etihad.Haaland has been sensational since his £51million summer arrival.

Arsenal and Tottenham fans cringing alike with their bickering in the gantry. It comes after the Gunners laid down a marker in the north London derby, swatting aside Spurs with relative ease at the Emirates on Saturday.

Manchester City are preparing themselves for the first derby of the season as Erik ten Hag's United side travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Following a 24-day absence from club games, Manchester United will be competing for the bragging rights of the city in an anticipated clash with neighbours Man City at the Etihad. A test that will be an indicator of the progression of Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Old Trafford.

When Riyad Mahrez scored Manchester City's fourth goal against Manchester United in March, the feeling amongst Reds supporters could hardly have been worse. The club, in the midst of a nightmare campaign, went out with a whimper against Pep Guardiola's side, despite starting the game in a positive manner.

Manchester City ace Kevin De Bruyne controls the pitch better than England legends Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard did in their playing days, according to ex-goalkeeper David James.But James, 52, stopped short of labelling De Bruyne a better player than his former midfield counterparts as the Belgium international has had the luxury of playing on modern pitches - which Gerrard and Lampard missed out on before they both went into management. Gerrard's gone onto take the reins at Aston Villa since hanging up his boots, while Lampard's trying his luck in Everton's dugout.Plus, James reckons De Bruyne's benefitted by having the likes of ex-City striker Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus - who moved to Arsenal in the summer, and new goal-scoring phenomenon Erling Haaland up front to finish off his assists.

When Manchester United lost 4-1 to Manchester City in the derby in March of this year, it felt like the club had completely hit rock bottom.

Manchester City will sit down with Bernardo Silva to discuss his future before they finalise plans for strengthening their midfield next summer.

Here are your Manchester City evening headlines on Tuesday, September 27.

Cristiano Ronaldo's failed Deadline Day switch to Manchester City was reportedly never approved by the club's senior hierarchy. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, 37, sealed a switch to Manchester United on the final day of the 2021 summer transfer window, returning to Old Trafford in an initial £12.85 million deal.

Coronavirus pandemic, the award returned in 2021 as Messi claimed the honour for the seventh time of his career, with Cristiano Ronaldo second on the list with five. But, after a tough first season with Paris Saint-Germain, Messi and team-mate Neymar have both been omitted from the 30-man shortlist.

FIFA 23 stats emerged ahead of the game's release on 30 September. The popular game is back for this year's edition but the player ratings have already been unveiled following the launch of the FIFA 23 Ultimate Team Web App.

Rio Ferdinand shouted ‘what am I hearing?’ when he was told Frank Lampard was less impactful than Steven Gerrard. The Manchester United legend had the good fortune of sharing the pitch with both players for England, and in Lampard’s case, as a youngster at West Ham United.

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up on 'breaking records' just days after Lionel Messi went ahead of him for the most non-penalty goals by a single player in football history.

Here are your Manchester City evening headlines on Thursday, September 22.

Fans of Manchester City and other clubs are praising Kevin De Bruyne after producing yet another classy finish for his country Belgium as they took on Wales.