Raheem Sterling will be in contention to start for Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime, when they lock horns with crosstown rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The 26-year-old has started only three Premier League games so far this season, but after making a positive impact off the bench against Club Brugge on Wednesday night, scoring City's third goal in a 4-1 victory, the winger will be hoping he can force his way into Pep Guardiola's first XI this weekend.
However, the England international has struggled against the Red Devils during his career, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's current first-choice right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka nullifying any threat the winger has posed in recent seasons.
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Sterling has faced Man United more than he has any other opponent in his entire club career across all competitions, playing 23 times including 19 starts.
His first encounter with the Red Devils was with Liverpool back in September 2012. The winger played another six times against them for the Merseyside outfit before joining Man City, for whom he has featured 16 times in this fixture with their noisy neighbours.
Despite playing 1662 minutes and having 38 shots on goal (including 15 on target) Sterling is yet to score against Man United.
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Speaking in March 2020, Sterling admitted that he had become aware of his unwanted record against United, however he claimed that he will eventually 'get his moment' to break his duck.
"At first I wasn't taking in that I hadn't scored against [Man United] and then the last two years I have known the record and have started to think about it too much. Now I am not thinking about it. I know I am going to get a moment," Sterling told BBC Sport.
Sterling has only ever registered two attacking returns against the Red Devils, providing an assist for Ilkay Gundogan's goal in a 3-2 home defeat in April 2018, as well as laying one on for Leroy Sane in a 2-0 away victory in April 2019.
In addition to his unwanted record against United, the Englishman has only scored two goals in his last 18 Premier League games, including fixtures from last season, so he will be desperate to finally get his name on the scoresheet this weekend.
Oliver Thomas
