Manchester United host Manchester City one of the most important derbies of recent years on Wednesday. 

The hosts are chasing a top-four place and following a 4-0 humiliation at Everton, anything but a win will almost certainly see them miss out on Champions League football next season. 

But the stakes are even higher for the visitors. A win for Pep Guardiola's side would see them go top of the Premier League table, overtaking Liverpool with just three matches to play. 

The game has such huge implications that many Liverpool fans will be cheering on United - which is something that's usually unthinkable given the great rivalry between the two clubs. 

But Reds supporters will be hoping Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side can give them a helping hand in the title race. 

Ahead of the Manchester derby, Virgil van Dijk was asked if he expects United to help out his side with a win on Wednesday but gave a rather blunt response. 

"They need to do themselves a favour," the Liverpool defender said, per RTE.

"We have no influence on that, but they are still playing for Champions League football and they need to get a result." 

Van Dijk isn't mincing his words and perhaps expects to see a strong response from United after their 4-0 defeat at the weekend. 

Goals from Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott buried the visitors at Goodison Park, but back at Old Trafford, the Red Devils could still struggle. 

Man City go into the game as heavy favourites but that's not very surprising given how both teams have performed this season. 

But if United are to keep the hope of a top-four finish alive, they will certainly need to 'do themselves a favour' exactly as Van Dijk suggests.