London, Dec 13 (NationPress) The upcoming derby clash between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium is set to be a dramatic highlight, with City manager Pep Guardiola facing a major crisis and United's new coach, Ruben Amorim, tackling various challenges. Last weekend, United suffered a 3-2 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, emphasizing the difficult path ahead for Amorim.

Manchester City recently experienced a 2-0 loss to Juventus in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, showcasing the same sluggish offensive play and defensive blunders that have marred their performance over the past six weeks, according to reports from Xinhua. The injury woes affecting defenders Nathan Ake, John Stones, and Manuel Akanji, coupled with Rico Lewis' suspension, have left City's defense considerably weakened. Meanwhile, Kyle Walker is showing signs of decline.

Manchester United’s defensive vulnerabilities were evident in their loss to Nottingham Forest, particularly in set-piece situations, which are areas Amorim must address swiftly. The instability within the coaching staff isn't aiding in his adjustment, yet Guardiola arguably enters this matchup under even greater pressure.

Current league leaders Liverpool secured a hard-fought victory in Girona on Tuesday and are set to face another challenge on Saturday when they meet a determined Fulham. Liverpool will have to cope without suspended midfielder Alexis Mac Allister as they aim to preserve their position at the top of the standings.

Arsenal will be hosting Everton, who last triumphed over Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 4 after their Merseyside derby was postponed due to adverse weather conditions. Bukayo Saka impressed in Arsenal's midweek win against Monaco, while Everton is looking to gain crucial points with challenging fixtures against Chelsea, Manchester City, and Nottingham Forest on the horizon. Both teams are proficient at set pieces; Arsenal has netted 23 goals from corners since last season, while over half of Everton's goals have come from dead-ball situations.

Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa are set to clash in what is expected to be a fiercely competitive match between the fifth and sixth placed teams. Villa, affected by midweek Champions League fatigue, will be without Leon Bailey due to injury, and Ollie Watkins remains a doubt. At the bottom of the table, relegation battles heat up as Wolverhampton Wanderers face Ipswich Town. Both teams find themselves with only nine points from 15 matches, and coach Gary O'Neil could be dismissed if his team records a fourth consecutive defeat.

In other matches, Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy will lead his team to St. James' Park to face Newcastle United. Despite Leicester remaining unbeaten under van Nistelrooy, the team has allowed 47 shots in two games, providing Newcastle with a glimmer of hope for victory. Crystal Palace, currently unbeaten in four matches, will visit Brighton, where coach Fabian Hurzeler has commended Palace boss Oliver Glasner as a source of inspiration from their time coaching in Germany.

Brentford looks to continue its strong away form at Stamford Bridge. Despite having won their last three matches there, this Chelsea side, unbeaten in seven games and scoring 35 goals this season, presents a significant challenge under coach Enzo Maresca. Southampton, with only five points from 15 matches, aims to improve their standing at home against Tottenham. Saints coach Russell Martin described his team's position as "hurtful" and "embarrassing," while Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou faces scrutiny over his team’s inconsistent results.

Lastly, Bournemouth will host West Ham in a clash of Basque coaches. Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth is currently positioned eighth, while Julen Lopetegui's West Ham narrowly defeated Wolves on Monday. Another defeat could reignite concerns regarding Lopetegui's job security.