Manchester United, Man City Set for Old Trafford Derby Clash

Old rivals Manchester United and Manchester City headline gameweek four of the 2026-27 Premier League season as the two sides renew their rivalry at Old Trafford in Sunday’s 4:30pm kickoff.

Both clubs head into the derby on the back of Champions League victories, with Manchester City beating Porto 2-0 before Manchester United followed with a 4-0 win over Sabah.

Match preview

Pre-season optimism has quickly turned into early-season frustration for Manchester United supporters, with the Red Devils collecting just four points from their opening three Premier League games despite facing sides they were expected to beat.

Michael Carrick’s men showed their attacking quality in a 5-2 demolition of Ipswich Town, but that result was sandwiched between a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Hull City and a 2-2 draw against an Everton side with just 18 senior players available.

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Ainsley Maitland-Niles’s late equaliser for Everton last weekend condemned Manchester United to an unwanted record, with the club conceding two goals in each of their opening three league games for only the second time in 50 years, after also doing so in the 2020-21 season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Red Devils eventually finished second that season, suggesting there is little reason for premature panic at Old Trafford. Carrick’s side also restored confidence on Thursday as they comfortably swept aside Champions League debutants Sabah.

A first clean sheet of the season and a third consecutive game scoring multiple goals came at an ideal time for Carrick, who has also won nine of his 10 Premier League home matches since returning for his second spell in charge.

He is now aiming to become the first Manchester United manager in 113 years to win both of his opening Manchester derbies in the league.

Only AH Albut in 1895 and John Bentley in 1913 have won both of their first two Manchester United-Manchester City clashes as Red Devils boss.

Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca is hoping to join an elite group of City managers who have won their first league Manchester derby.

Eight previous Manchester City managers have achieved the feat, including four this century in Kevin Keegan, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola.

Maresca has already guided City to the top of the Premier League table after three games.

Despite scoring only once against Coventry City last weekend through Erling Haaland’s customary header, the Sky Blues are currently ahead of defending champions Arsenal on goals scored, although the Gunners face Sunderland on Saturday night.

City’s winning run continued in midweek as Haaland scored twice against Porto, taking his remarkable tally to 42 goals in 39 Champions League group-stage and league-phase appearances.

Victory at Old Trafford would see City win their opening four Premier League games of a season for the seventh time, setting a new outright record and surpassing Chelsea’s six such starts.

However, Guardiola’s final visit to Old Trafford last season ended in disappointment, as Carrick’s Manchester United secured a 2-0 victory in January’s derby.

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Team News

Long-serving left-back Luke Shaw was a notable absentee from Manchester United’s squad against Sabah, but Carrick revealed that the England international missed the game only because of the cramp he suffered at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Shaw is therefore expected to be available to make his 300th Premier League appearance, while Carlos Baleba (ankle), Matthijs de Ligt (back), Manuel Ugarte (knee), Tom Heaton (hamstring) and Amad Diallo (ankle) remain unavailable.

The selection battle between Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha has dominated Manchester United’s team news, but with both players scoring against Sabah, Marcus Rashford could ultimately be the player to miss out on a starting berth.

Maresca has fewer selection concerns in attack, where Haaland will look to add to his impressive record of eight goals in seven Premier League appearances against Manchester United. However, only two of those goals have come at Old Trafford.

The Norwegian is expected to lead the City attack despite the likely absence of Jeremy Doku, who continues to struggle with a calf problem.

Nico O’Reilly is back to full fitness after withdrawing from the lineup against Coventry because of a back injury.

Enzo Fernandez was handed his full debut in that match and is expected to retain his place after also impressing against Porto, where he provided the assist for Haaland’s header.

Ayyoub Bouaddi could make way for former Manchester United transfer target Elliot Anderson.

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

Manchester United 2-2 Manchester City

The Manchester derby has not always followed the expected script in recent times, with Manchester City winning just one of their last four Premier League meetings against Manchester United.

The fixtures involving both sides this season have also been entertaining, while the two clubs registered the joint-most shots on target across the opening three gameweeks, with 19 each.

Another closely fought encounter could therefore be in store at Old Trafford, with a high-scoring draw a potential outcome.