Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is well accustomed to the Manchester derby and will be the most experienced player, in terms of appearances in derby clashes with Man City, when he takes to the field on Sunday.
As ever when a huge match approaches, many look back on the best moments the fixture has conjured up and Rooney has been doing likewise this week. Taking to his personal website, the Man United skipper named his top five Manchester derby moments, and he’s seen a few.
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Here are Rooney’s choices.
5. Robin van Persie’s free-kick winner
On the way to reclaiming their title, which Man United painfully lost due to Sergio Aguero’s iconic winner, Manchester United exacted their first revenge by claiming a 3-2 win at the Etihad Stadium.
With the scores level at 2-2, Man United’s major summer signing Van Persie, hit a free-kick which took a slight deflection into the far corner to hand the visitors all three points.
4. Paul Scholes’ header
Another late winner for Manchester United in the derby, this time Scholes kept their hopes of clinching the title alive. However, Chelsea’s important win at Old Trafford would later hand the title to the Blues.
The goal has since been remembered due to Scholes and Gary Neville’s interesting celebration.
3. Carling-Cup semi-final goal
In a match which intensified the derby due to the move across the city made by Carlos Tevez, Manchester United overcame their neighbours thanks to a late header from Wayne Rooney – a bit of a pattern emerging here.
2. Michael Owen’s late winner
Another enthralling derby in which fringe player Michael Own stabbed home deep into ‘Fergie time’ to send the Old Trafford crowd wild. Man United ran out 4-3 winners.
1. Wayne Rooney’s overhead kick
Arguably the greatest goal in Premier League history, Rooney produced a moment of magic to win the derby in a game in which he was visibly short of form. Vincent Kompany had him in his pocket all game, but one piece of utter brilliance had millions stunned.