Since the latter club’s Sheikh takeover in 2008, Manchester United vs. Manchester City has been the pinnacle fixture in the Premier League.

Far from being little more than noisy neighbours, City and United are now equals – continuously competing for every trophy on offer in England and Europe.

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So following the appointments of Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, Saturday’s instalment of the Manchester Derby could be the greatest yet.

Once friends, now enemies with careers seemingly destined to eternally intertwine, the Guardiola-Mourinho rivalry adds yet another incredible subplot to Saturday’s game.

With so much now on the line in this fixture, it may surprise you that the last nine Manchester Derbies have produced just one red card – received by Chris Smalling in 2014 after picking up two innocuous yellows.

But with Premier League referees seemingly on the warpath this season, handing out cards for any hint of dissent or grappling inside the box, former Manchester United star Paul Ince believes referee Mark Clattenburg will send someone off on Saturday.

The retired England midfielder, who certainly knows a thing or two about referees’ notebooks, told Paddy Power; “There will be a red card. The way refereeing is at the moment, you can get booked for any kind of dissent.

“It’s a passionate game and that’s hyped up because it’s a Manchester derby. You only have to make one tackle, or say one wrong word to the referee and you get shown a card. That’s sucking the passion out of the game now.

“Players want to show their will to win – and that’s going to get someone sent off. This Manchester derby is massive – and it probably carries even more substance and pressure now because of the two managers.”

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