The Manchester United manager would never use the City midfielder's phrase but he knows victory in the derby would be just the start of his side's bid to become regular title challengers

By Michael Carrick’s deadpan standards, he was almost a picture of animation when he was reminded of Elliot Anderson’s signing-on comments. “I’m definitely not using that phrase, at all, no,” the Manchester United manager laughed.

When Anderson’s £116million move to the Etihad was confirmed in July, the England midfielder said he was particularly looking forward to playing against United. And here was his reason.

“It’s been one of the biggest derbies in the world. And for as long as I’ve known, City have been the Kings of Manchester.”

And just to wind up United further, City’s official website made it a capital K for Kings. An old school manager would have Anderson’s comments pinned on the dressing-room wall ahead of Sunday’s game.

And maybe Carrick will. After all, his first game in this permanent stint as United manager was a 2-0 victory over Pep Guardiola’s City at a raucous Old Trafford.

And City’s superiority in this fixture has not been eye-catchingly emphatic over the past decade. Of the last 20 Premier League meetings between the clubs, City have won 10, United have won seven, and there have been three draws.

But City’s overall superiority HAS been emphatic. The last time United finished above City in the Premier League was at the end of the 2012-13 season.

Elliot Anderson was ten years of age, so you know where he is coming from. Since then, City have won seven Premier League titles, three FA Cups, seven League Cups, a Champions League and a Club World Cup.

In that time, United have won two FA Cups, two League Cups and a Europa League. No wonder Anderson knows City as the Kings of Manchester.

And Carrick is sensible enough to know that while his triumph over City earlier this year was hugely enjoyable, the ultimate target is an overall power shift. United need to join City as perennial title challengers.

“I understand it,” he said, expanding on Anderson’s remark. “We are humble enough and realistic enough to know where we have come from in recent history.

“It is good, in a way, that expectation has shifted. All of a sudden, there are different things asked of us to maybe what was asked of us a few months ago.

“We are in the Champions League - that in itself shows the steps we have made. Now, it is about the next stage. We need to, and want to be better, and we want to be challenging more. That’s where we're at. It doesn't mean that we can't and we won't. It means we still hope, we believe, and we expect that we can be and we should be, but I understand the bigger picture.”

And the bigger picture will be impacted by this latest derby, City already holding a five-point advantage over their neighbours in the Premier League table. Carrick, though, seemed bullish ahead of the meeting with Enzo Maresca’s men, saying: “I thought they (City) were very professional against Porto the other night.

"They are a very good team. We know we have to put in a good performance and do a lot of things right to get a result.

“I think we have built up confidence over a period of time. I feel like we are getting better all the time and that helps us. It is is a big game, it is an important game, there is a lot riding on it.

“We are looking forward to it. We have got a short space of time to recover and prepare for it, but we will make the most of it.”