Manchester derby offers United chance to halt City march

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Champions League - Manchester United Press Conference - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - November 6, 2018 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho during the press conference REUTERS/Massimo Pinca/File Photo

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - The rise of Manchester City in the past decade has raised the question of whether the Manchester derby has finally replaced United's clash with Liverpool as the pre-eminent derby in English football's North-West heartland.

While there are no shortage of United fans who, for either historic reasons or a sense of inter-city competition, still say that Liverpool is the ultimate grudge match, there is no doubt the Manchester derby has grown in stature and relevance.