Kyle Walker has been getting plenty of “strange” messages from Manchester United fans ahead of Wednesday’s Old Trafford crunch.
But the Manchester City defender feels that all the goodwill from the Reds will quickly evaporate in the heat of the Manchester derby.
United fans have found themselves between the Scouse devil and the deep Blue sea as two of their worst enemies have gone head to head for the Premier League title.
They desperately do not want Liverpool to end their 30-year run without a league title, but a Reds win over City on Wednesday would open the door for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
And Walker has been a little surprised by the way United fans have been reacting to him in public.
“United fans are in a difficult situation, obviously,” said Walker.
“When I'm out and about or walking my dogs, United fans are coming up to me saying 'We'd rather City win the league than Liverpool'.
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“It's strange to hear but I can assure you the United players aren't going to leave a red carpet and say 'Go on City, score past us'.
“They're going to make it difficult because it's a game of football and they're fighting for the top four as well so they need the points.”
City do not need any extra motivation, but the memory of last season’s April derby at the Etihad Stadium, when they blew the chance to win the title by beating the Red foe, is still strong.
The Blues were 2-0 up at half time and should have been out of sight, only for United to delay the celebrations by a week by scoring three times after the break.
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Walker says the 3-1 win at the Etihad in November got that defeat out of their system, and this one is all about the points, and the bragging rights that would come with them.
“Obviously we could have won it against them last season and they scored a couple of good goals and got the victory,” said Walker.
“That was probably what every United fan wanted, with City not winning the title at the Etihad against United.
“So we don't owe them one because we won against them earlier in the season.
“But it's one for the fans and it's one for us to get closer to being the Premier League champions.”
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