Early Derby Test for Carrick and Maresca

Manchester United welcome Manchester City to Old Trafford on Sunday for the 199th Manchester derby, with the two rivals entering the game in very different PL form. Let’s take a closer look at this Sunday’s big match in Manchester!

City have won all three of their league matches under Enzo Maresca and sit level with Arsenal at the top of the table, while United have taken four points from nine after losing at Hull, beating Ipswich and conceding a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser at Everton.

Michael Carrick’s side did receive an important confidence boost on Thursday night, however, marking their return to the CL with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Sabah.

Match Analysis

Manchester United’s start to the season has been difficult to assess. The opening 1-0 defeat at newly-promoted Hull immediately raised questions, but the response against Ipswich was impressive as United recovered to win 5-2. Last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Everton then summed up much of their early campaign: encouraging attacking football undermined by an inability to control the decisive moments.

United led twice at Hill Dickinson Stadium, through Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, only for Ainsley Maitland-Niles to equalise with a spectacular strike in the 96th minute. Carrick was understandably frustrated after watching two points disappear so late.

Thursday’s CL performance was much more straightforward. Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Sesko and Lisandro Martínez scored in a 4-0 win over Azerbaijani champions Sabah, with United controlling the majority of the game and collecting a clean sheet before the derby.

Sesko’s return is particularly important. The Slovenian missed almost three months with a shin injury but has now scored in consecutive matches, first from the bench against Everton and then on his first start of the season against Sabah. Carrick highlighted Sesko’s ability to threaten the space behind defences, something that could be especially useful against a City side determined to dominate possession high up the pitch.

United nevertheless face a much greater test on Sunday. City have made a perfect start to the PL season. They came from behind to beat Bournemouth 2-1 on the opening weekend, won 4-1 away at Crystal Palace and then defeated Coventry 1-0.

Maresca’s side have also begun their CL campaign with a 2-0 victory at Porto, where their star striker scored both goals.

Their number 9 already has three PL goals this season and continues to provide City with the most reliable source of goals in the division. His battle with United’s centre-backs will be one of the defining areas of Sunday’s game, particularly given the hosts’ defensive problems.

City’s midfield is also beginning to look very different from the one that dominated English football under Pep Guardiola.

Enzo Fernández made an immediate impact after joining from Chelsea, assisting the winner against Coventry on his City debut, while Elliot Anderson has settled quickly into a deeper midfield role. The pair are central to Maresca’s attempt to reshape City following the departures of several established players.

United may actually welcome the tactical nature of the contest. Carrick has almost exclusively used a 4-2-3-1 since returning to Old Trafford, with Fernandes operating behind the striker and Mbeumo providing a direct threat from the right. City will expect to have more possession, but that can give United opportunities to attack quickly through Mbeumo, Cunha and potentially Marcus Rashford.

There is also evidence that Carrick knows how to make United competitive against strong opposition. From his appointment last season through the end of the campaign, United collected more PL points than any other club over the same 17-game period.

The problem is that this season has already demonstrated a gap between United’s best football and their worst.

City have been far more consistent. United won this fixture 2-0 last season and Old Trafford should ensure another intense contest, but City arrive with greater control, more confidence and a striker operating at full speed.

Team News

United remain without Carlos Baleba, Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte and Amad Diallo. Baleba is out with an ankle injury, De Ligt with a back problem and Ugarte with a serious knee injury ahead of Thursday’s CL match.

Rashford is the main doubt after suffering a minor muscular problem against Everton. Carrick described the issue as nothing serious, but Rashford did not start against Sabah and his availability will need to be monitored.

Sesko is fit and pushing strongly to start after scoring in consecutive games, while Carrick was able to rotate parts of his team during Thursday’s comfortable victory.

City come into the derby after Tuesday’s CL win at Porto. Their striker once again played the decisive role in that match with two goals, while Maresca has been rotating carefully around the increased early-season schedule.

Betting Tips

Main tip: Manchester City draw no bet at 1.56

United are dangerous enough at Old Trafford to make an outright City win less attractive, particularly after last season’s 2-0 home derby victory.

City nevertheless enter the match in much better domestic form. They have won all three PL games, conceded only twice and followed that with another clean-sheet victory in Europe.

United have already dropped five points and conceded twice in each of their last two league matches. If City reproduce the control they have shown under Maresca, they should avoid defeat.

Our prediction: Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City

Don’t forget that we also have Early Payout on this match, which you can read more about here.

Please note that the odds might have changed since the writing and/or publication of this article.

Last Updated: 11.09.2026