Can Sergio Romero FINALLY oust David de Gea as Manchester United's No 1? He's the best back-up keeper in the Premier League and fans want him to play, while his rival is in an alarming slump... and now he's set for his big chance against City
* David de Gea has made six mistakes leading to goals since start of last season
* Sergio Romero has performed superbly whenever he's given an opportunity
* Argentine should play for Manchester United in EFL Cup against rivals City
* He is piling on the pressure for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to make him No 1 at last
* Romero has kept a remarkable 33 clean sheets in 52 games for United
There was a time when to suggest David de Gea should be dropped would be considered sacrilege by Manchester United fans.
Not long ago the Spaniard could lay claim to being among world's best goalkeepers and was voted the club's player of the year in four out of the last six seasons.
But his rate of decline over the last season or so has been alarming. On Tuesday night in the EFL Cup semi-final against Manchester City, Sergio Romero may be given the chance to crank up the pressure on United's No 1.
Since the start of last season, De Gea has made six mistakes directly leading to opposition goals.
The howlers keep on coming, most recently against Watford when he allowed a tame effort from Ismaila Sarr to inexplicably slip through his fingers.
In the previous Premier League game, against Everton, he flapped at a cross, missing the ball which ricocheted in for an own goal. These two high-profile errors were more than an unfortunate coincidence. They continue a pattern of costly mistakes over two seasons.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has never hinted at dropping the 29-year-old but if the slump continues, may be forced into making one of the biggest calls of his managerial career.
The pressure ratchets up further when considering Romero's claim to the position. Whenever the No 2 has come into the side, he's acquitted himself superbly.
De Gea flapped at a cross under pressure which led to an own goal against Everton
The Argentina international has kept 33 clean sheets in 52 games for United during his time at the club, an undeniably impressive record.
Granted, a number of those outings have come against inferior opposition in cup competitions - he is the unofficial No 1 goalkeeper in domestic knockout games - but the 32-year-old cannot do much more to further his case.
Since August 2017, a solid sample size over two-and-a-half seasons, his statistics eclipse De Gea's in a number of important areas.
In terms of goals conceded per minute, the Spaniard averaged a goal conceded every 84 minutes.
By contrast, Romero's is far more stingy, with the No 2 letting one in on average once every 177 minutes.
Romero has a fantastic record of keeping clean sheets when given the chance to play. The Argentine made a fantastic stop from Matt Doherty among other saves against Wolves
Romero's save percentage is also significantly higher at 85.2 compared with De Gea's 73.8 per cent.
Clearly the number of games played for De Gea is significantly larger but one crucial category where he comes out second best is the errors leading to goals measure.
The No 1 has seven in his last 115 matches and Romero has not made a mistake leading to United conceding in 24 games during the same time frame.
With 96 Argentina caps to his name, it's clear that Romero is the finest back-up keeper in the Premier League, so with De Gea looking so wobbly, he will think this is the best opportunity to break into the first team.
Solskjaer recently acknowledged the Argentine's classy performances in saying: 'He has not played enough, for his liking, but whenever he has been called upon he has always produced.'
Indeed, Romero was man of the match in United's FA Cup stalemate against Wolves at the weekend.
His form seems to be on the up, whereas De Gea is stuck in reverse. Speculation abounds as to why the the former Atletico Madrid man has not lived up to his former standards.
One possible reason is that his goalkeeping coach, friend and long-time mentor Emiliano Alvarez left the club in September. The Athletic reported that Alvarez was axed because their friendly relationship meant sessions were not as 'rigorous' as they needed to be.
But his dismissal does not seem to have had the desired effect.
De Gea will be looking over his shoulder with some real concern about Romero now, and Sheffield United's Dean Henderson will offer more competition when he returns from his loan at Bramall Lane.
Romero is considered by many to be the best No 2 goalkeeper in the Premier League
A number of fans on social media have called for De Gea to be benched in the Premier League in light of his poor form.
One wrote that Romero is now 'far better' and another posted that the Spaniard needs to work hard to come back.
Another added that De Gea 'has not been very good for a year' so should no longer be the No 1.
Solskjaer might yet hand De Gea a chance to impress again in what is United's biggest game of the season so far.
But if as expected Romero starts in goal against City on Tuesday night, he could create a serious dilemma for Solskjaer with another big performance and those voices calling for a change would grow louder and louder still.
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