After Robin van Persie salvaged a point for Manchester United in their 1-1 draw with Chelsea, many fans viewed it as a win of sorts because of how the Red Devils came from behind. The club now moves on from that emotional roller coaster, and will be back in action Sunday when they travel to Eastlands for their derby with Manchester City. United haven’t beaten their rivals since December 2012, and are still searching for a first win away from Old Trafford this season.

The visitors will be encouraged by the return of Wayne Rooney; the captain finished his three-match ban with the Chelsea game, and Louis van Gaal will insert the Englishman back into the starting XI. Rooney has a history of scoring against City, including this fantastic volley (uploaded to YouTube by shauf6):

How will the summer signings perform in their first taste of the Manchester Derby? Radamel Falcao will miss the match through injury, but Angel Di Maria could be a crucial factor in determining how the match goes.

For City, this is game 3 of a four-game stretch that could define their 2014/15 season. Last Saturday, the defending EPL champions lost a tough match at West Ham, and followed that with a home midweek defeat to Newcastle in the League Cup.  After the derby, City hosts CSKA Moscow in a Champions League tie that the Blues almost desperately need three points from, if they want a chance at progressing to the knockout stages. Make no mistake, however, the Citizens will not be looking ahead to European fixtures if it means sacrificing the importance of a local rivalry.

Chelsea beat QPR on Saturday to preserve their unbeaten record in the Premier League, but City can stay within six points of the Blues if they beat United at Etihad Stadium. How do the visitors approach this game following their encounter with Chelsea, and with a trip to a third rival (Arsenal) later this month? Expect some wild drama from this derby!