Manchester United vs Manchester City – Match preview and team news

Manchester United host Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday in the first Manchester derby of the season, with Enzo Maresca’s league leaders looking to maintain a perfect start to the campaign against a United side sitting 11th on four points.

Both clubs arrive on the back of Champions League wins in midweek, City beating Porto 2-0 and United thrashing debutants Sabah 4-0. Michael Carrick, who took permanent charge of United since first winning this exact fixture as interim boss in January, has won nine of his 10 Premier League home matches in his second spell at the club and is looking to become the first United manager in 113 years to win both of his opening derbies in the league.

City, meanwhile, have won their first three league games this season and would set an outright record for most consecutive opening-day wins to a Premier League campaign with victory on Sunday. The match kicks off at 16:30 and will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.

Manchester United vs Manchester City – Match preview and team news

Team news

Manchester United

Carlos Baleba (ankle), Matthijs de Ligt (back), Manuel Ugarte (knee), Tom Heaton (hamstring) and Amad Diallo (ankle) are all unavailable. Luke Shaw was withheld from the Sabah win as a precaution after coming off with cramp against Everton, with Carrick saying: “We didn’t want to take any risks really. We tried to manage him, so we will see how he is after this one.” Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha are both expected to start, likely at the expense of Marcus Rashford.

Manchester City

Jeremy Doku remains out with a calf issue, with Maresca saying: “Jeremy, I think he needs some more days.” Nico O’Reilly is fit again after a back injury forced him out of the win over Coventry, with Maresca confirming: “Nico is 100% available.” Enzo Fernandez, who impressed on his full debut against Coventry and set up Erling Haaland’s goal at Porto, is expected to retain his midfield place.

Form

United have lost, won and drawn their three Premier League games this season, conceding twice in each — a run repeated only once before in the last 50 years. Sunday’s Champions League win over Sabah delivered their first clean sheet of the campaign and a third straight multi-goal performance.

City have won all three of their Premier League matches, sitting top of the table, and followed up a 1-0 win over Coventry with a 2-0 Champions League victory at Porto, where Haaland scored both goals to take his tally to 42 in 39 league-phase and group-stage appearances in the competition.

Predicted lineups

Manchester United predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Tielemans, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko

Manchester City predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Nunes, Guehi, Dias, Gvardiol; Anderson, Fernandez; Semenyo, Cherki, Ndiaye; Haaland

How to watch Manchester United vs Manchester City?

The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.

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