Manchester United and Manchester City will renew their fierce rivalry on Sunday afternoon when the two Manchester giants meet at Old Trafford in one of the standout fixtures of Premier League gameweek four.
Both sides head into the derby with European victories behind them. Manchester United produced an impressive 4-0 win over Sabah, while Manchester City defeated Porto 2-0, giving both teams a timely confidence boost ahead of their domestic showdown.
United have endured a mixed beginning to the Premier League campaign, collecting only four points from their first three matches. Michael Carrick’s side suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat to newly promoted Hull City before responding with a 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town. They were then held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by Everton after conceding a late equaliser.
The Red Devils have now conceded twice in each of their opening three league matches, highlighting their defensive vulnerabilities. However, Carrick has been particularly impressive at Old Trafford, winning nine of his last 10 Premier League home matches during his second spell in charge.
Manchester City, meanwhile, have made a perfect start. Enzo Maresca’s side have won all three of their league matches and currently sit at the top of the table. Their latest Premier League victory was a narrow 1-0 triumph over Coventry City, with Erling Haaland once again providing the decisive moment.
Haaland then continued his outstanding European record with a brace against Porto, taking his Champions League group/league-phase tally to 42 goals in 39 appearances.
City could make history with victory, as a fourth consecutive league win would give them their best-ever start to a Premier League season in terms of consecutive victories. United, though, will draw confidence from their 2-0 victory over City in the corresponding fixture last season.
Team News
Manchester United received positive news regarding Luke Shaw after the left-back missed the Champions League victory over Sabah. Carrick confirmed that Shaw’s absence was related to the cramp he suffered against Everton rather than a serious injury, meaning he should be available to start his landmark 300th Premier League appearance.
United will still be without several players, however. Carlos Baleba remains sidelined with an ankle problem, while Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte, Tom Heaton and Amad Diallo are also unavailable due to their respective injuries.
Carrick faces an important selection decision in attack after both Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha scored against Sabah. Marcus Rashford could be the player to make way, although the manager will have to decide how best to balance his attacking options against City.
Manchester City have fewer concerns. Jeremy Doku is expected to miss the derby as he continues to recover from a calf problem.
There is better news regarding Nico O’Reilly, who has recovered fully from the back issue that forced him to withdraw from the starting lineup against Coventry.
Enzo Fernandez impressed during his full debut against Coventry and continued his excellent form against Porto, where he provided the assist for Haaland’s goal. He is expected to retain his place, while Ayyoub Bouaddi could make way for Elliot Anderson.
Haaland will lead the City attack as he looks to add to his impressive record against United, having scored eight goals in seven Premier League appearances against the Red Devils.
Possible Lineups
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Tielemans, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Nunes, Guehi, Dias, Gvardiol; Anderson, Fernandez; Semenyo, Cherki, Ndiaye; Haaland
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | dstv stream |
| Kick-off Time | 16:30pm (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City.
