Ex Manchester United and England defender Paul Parker believes there is not only a significant chasm in class between Manchester City and his former club on the pitch this season but in the technical area too. 

“When you look at Pep and Jose you have to say there is a massive gap. Pep is evolving and he realises that the game offers him more scope now with what he wants to do because of how the game is going. Whereas Mourinho as a coach he’s not really evolved and he’s still doing what he did at Porto and Inter Milan.

“You have to move on. Sir Alex moved on and got different coaches who had different coaches and because of that United still won titles and still dominated. You want players to move on and to improve but really it comes down to getting the right teacher, a person who doesn’t only believe in himself but in the abilities of the player and what they can do”.

The respected right-back, who won every domestic honour going during his five years at Old Trafford, does not solely attribute the gulf to the two coach’s very different methods and philosophies however. Football too plays a part.

“Without a doubt the modern game suits Pep Guardiola more than Jose Mourinho. The style of it. The lack of physicality. Mind games no longer seem to work and trying to stop the play with niggly fouls, well, the referees can see through all of that now and will penalise.

"The Premier League gives teams who want to play football every opportunity to do so and that’s because it’s a business now and customers want value for money. If people don’t get entertained they will go elsewhere.”

The E word has blighted Mourinho’s two year stint with the Red Devils with many critical of the stolid fare he favours at a club known for getting fans off their seats. Parker goes further and insists that his cautious approach renders the signing of even the world’s most exciting talents pointless.

“Manchester United could go and sign the best player in the world but is that player going to be allowed to play and show why he’s the best player in the world? No matter how much is spent will those players be allowed to show what their best strengths are?

"That’s the big problem. We see this all the time and these players come and it doesn’t work out because they’re no longer the players they were at their former clubs. That comes down to Mourinho’s style of football.”

Such thinking places serious doubt on a strongly rumoured summer move materialising.

“You have to wonder whether Gareth Bale would fit in. Where would he play? He’s not a wide player anymore and likes to do his work through the middle. There are a lot of players who are already placed in the middle and the problem is a need for someone who is happy to provide width and stay out wide. Martial wants to come in.

"Rashford wants to come in and is very good at it. Bale would just be another player who wants to be a centre-forward.

“From a marketing side it makes sense but you have to ask if Gareth Bale would be comfortable there and given freedom. He’s not a player to track back and his first thought is always offensive and to run at people with pace and will he be given a chance to do that?”

Parker was speaking ahead of a momentous Manchester derby this weekend that will see the blue half of the city crowned champions should they win. It’s a fixture that pits each side’s most instrumental figures together in a fascinating midfield battle yet according to the 53 year old pundit it’s a match-up that’s woefully one-sided to United’s great cost.

“The gap between Pogba and De Bruyne could end up a nineteen-point gap. We’re talking about potential up against class. There are good players but to become a great player you have to do it consistently week in and week out and that’s what De Bruyne does.”

On the Frenchman’s struggles this term absolutely no punches are pulled for a player yet to justify his enormous fee.

“Can Pogba become the player he wants to be? He can but his priority has got to be his football – that should stick out more than his hair. It’s fine to have all the haircuts and emojis and whatever but to earn all that go and do your talking on the pitch. Everybody knows he can do it because everybody saw him at Juventus. He was fantastic in that style of play and the players around him helped him.

"So he needs help and his first priority when he’s asked what he wants to be and replies that he wants to be the best player in this team is to say, ‘well forget your hairdresser for a while’. Just go out there and become a player first then you can do what you want with your hair because people won’t notice anyway because they’ll only see the player.”

“De Bruyne won’t do anything with his hair and he doesn’t have an emoji: he’s playing football and when you talk about the best five players in the world you’ll mention Messi, Ronaldo, Salah and De Bruyne will be in there. When you mention Pogba people will have a little bit of a laugh then talk about his hair and the problems he has with Mourinho. That’s not really what you should be known for when you cost £89m.”

It can be assumed then that Pogba would be missing from the engine room in a combined City and United XI if selected by Parker. In the event only one man in Red makes the grade.

“I would go with just the goalkeeper. Under pressure you can always hang your hat on David De Gea making the save. That’s why he’s going to win the Manchester United Player of the Year award again for the fourth time.”

Paul Parker’s Quick-Fire Questions

Score predictions for the Manchester derby?

"3-1 to City." (Currently priced at 23/2 with 888sport)

First goal-scorer?

"Raheem Sterling." (Currently priced at 5/1 with 888sport)

Who will win the FA Cup this season?

"I’ve got a funny feeling for Spurs." (Currently priced at 2/1 with 888sport)

Who will win the Champions League?

"Real Madrid." (Currently priced at 11/4 with 888sport)

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

The Premier League is stuck in the shadow of European football this week. The glamour of knockout football supersedes the grind of domestic action, particularly when the league is lacking competitiveness.

Relegation is the only point of interest with over a month of the season remaining. Draw your own conclusions from that.

The two matches coming up this Sunday have plenty riding on them, however. Here are a few thoughts and tips…

ARSENAL vs SOUTHAMPTON

Arsenal fall into the bracket of nothing to play for. The Gunners are again left in limbo during the latter weeks of the Premier League season, with the Europa League their primary focus. It has been a season of turmoil at the Emirates again.

The visiting Southampton are in trouble. They suffered a 3-0 defeat to relegation rivals, West Ham, last weekend. That was the same score line that Arsenal dispatched Stoke by. The Potters currently accompany the Saints in the bottom three. Southampton’s new manager, Mark Hughes, faces an uphill battle for survival after the disaster at the London Stadium last time out.

Southampton lost 3-0 away to Newcastle in the match before the West Ham drubbing. Their road record has not been poor this year, though, having been hard to beat for the majority of the campaign, but – as is the tale of their season – they have struggled to convert that into victories.

Despite another underwhelming campaign, Arsenal have been very good at the Emirates. Only the two Manchester clubs have picked up more points at home, and the Gunners’ only two defeats in front of their own fans have come at the hands of Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho’s teams.

What may give Southampton a glimmer of an upset, however, is the focus on the Europa League. Arsene Wenger may well opt to rest players like Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey. Unfortunately for Hughes’ side, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a certain starter. The former Dortmund marksman has scored four in his last three outings - he is 10/13 to extend that run this weekend.

Southampton are desperate now. Hughes was appointed for that quick managerial boost, but the disappointment of last weekend leaves the club in the mire. A dramatic turnaround for this match is a necessity for Saints, anything less could see them cut adrift should Crystal Palace and Huddersfield pick up points.

I expect the visitors to chase the game here. Hughes will have his side playing on the front foot more than his predecessor, which may be a disaster, but it certainly makes goals likely.

TIP: Over 2.5 goals @ 16/25

CORRECT SCORE: Arsenal 2-2 Southampton (Priced at 13/1 with 888sport)

Chelsea vs WEST HAM UNITED

West Ham head to Stamford Bridge in their most positive mood for a while. The unrest of the crowd prior to the international break was brushed into the annals of history with the victory over Southampton, which put the Hammers five points clear of the bottom three with seven matches left to play.

Chelsea, on the other hand, are in a muddle again. Even in their darkest times, the Blues have always been able to fall back on their record against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge. It was not just the way they lost to the Lilywhites last weekend, but the manner of it. Antonio Conte has lost the fans, and it’s a matter of time until there’s a change in the Chelsea dugout.

The hosts are in a bad way. Nine league defeats has left them with no hope of Champions League qualification, meaning their attention is likely to turn to the FA Cup. Four of those defeats have come at Stamford Bridge, too.

West Ham have really struggled on the road of late, however. David Moyes’ side have lost three straight away from their controversial home, conceding 11 goals in the process. The attack has been an issue, too, despite the obvious talent.

Balancing these options has been a challenge for Moyes, who will be without Michail Antonio for the remainder of the season. Antonio could have been a danger on the counter attacking Chelsea’s weak left.

Without Champions League football to worry about, Chelsea should be near full strength for this one. Conte has been unable to get the team playing as a unit in the last few months. The midfield is too often flimsy, while their play in the final third has been all too dependent on moments of individual magic.

A lot of this match depends on which version of Marko Arnautovic is on show. If the Austrian is anything like his inspired best from last weekend, he will tear this Chelsea defence apart. Chelsea’s uninspiring form – which has seen them lose four of six in the league – makes the visitors good value.

TIP: West Ham to win or draw @ 29/10

CORRECT SCORE: Chelsea 1-2 West Ham United (Priced at 25/1 with 888sport)

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*