In Pellegrini’s first derby last year, City had won 4-1. (AP)

The Manchester derby was a fixture that filled the blue half of the city with dread during United’s glory years under Alex Ferguson. Now, it’s United fans who are starting to fear the worst when one of English football’s biggest matches comes around.

City are looking for a sixth win in their last seven Premier League games against United when the fierce rivals meet at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. City beat United 4-1 and 3-0 last season and dished out United’s heaviest ever Premier League loss in 2011, a 6-1 thrashing at Old Trafford.

It’s a different story to the period from 1990-2001, when United never lost to City as Ferguson laid the foundations of his trophy-winning empire. Both teams need a win to keep on the tail of undefeated leaders Chelsea, who hold a four-point lead over second-placed Southampton and also play in a derby, against west London rivals QPR Saturday.

City, six points behind Chelsea in third, are going through a poor run of form that continued with a surprise loss to Newcastle in the League Cup on Wednesday. United are in eighth place, 10 points off Chelsea, as they continue a rebuilding job under Louis van Gaal.

ROONEY to RETURN

After serving his three-match ban for kicking an opponent, Wayne Rooney was due to be back for United this weekend.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal told reporters on Friday that Rooney would feature, but fellow striker Radamel Falcao would not be available.

“Falcao is still injured,” he said. “Rooney shall play, he is my captain.”

Meanwhile, City midfielder David Silva has also been ruled out for nearly a month after sustaining a knee injury, his manager Manuel Pellegrini said Friday.

The Spanish playmaker was withdrawn after suffering the injury only nine minutes into City’s shock 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United in the League Cup on Wednesday. Scans have now revealed possible ligament damage. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Premier League derby with Manchester United, City boss Pellegrini said Silva would be out for “three to four weeks”. The loss of the influential Spaniard comes as a major blow for the champions, who have endured a stuttering start to the season and are third in the table on 17 points, six adrift of leaders Chelsea.

Meanwhile, Diego Costa isn’t the only inspired signing in Chelsea’s attack for this season. Didier Drogba returned to Stamford Bridge for a second spell and faced a tough task reproducing his exploits for Chelsea from 2004-12, when he scored 157 goals in 342 appearances and was always the man for the big occasion. But he hasn’t lost his eye for goal.

Filling in while Costa and Loic Remy were injured, the 36-year-old Drogba scored in each of the last three games, against Maribor in the Champions League, United in the league and Shrewsbury in the League Cup. He also played the full 90 minutes against United and Shrewsbury, despite the games being only two days apart.