The first Manchester derby of the 2026/27 Premier League season sees Manchester United host Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday at 4:30pm.
Man City go into this game top of the league, still perfect after three games. The Citizens have won two of their games by narrow margins, beating Bournemouth 2-1 and Coventry City 1-0 — both at the Etihad. They were slightly more convincing in their 4-1 win over Crystal Palace on the road. And they go into this game off the back of a 2-0 win over Porto in Portugal to kick off their Champions League campaign.
Man Utd, meanwhile, have had a mixed start to the new league season. The Red Devils opened the campaign with a defeat to Hull City, before beating Ipswich Town at home. But they were unable to build on that, drawing 2-2 against Everton last weekend. They did, however, start their Champions League campaign with a comfortable 4-0 win over Sabah.
These two sides traded home wins in the Premier League last season, both without conceding.
Man Utd vs Man City team news
Man Utd team news
Michael Carrick was able to slightly rotate his side for the win over Champions League newbies Sabah, and Man Utd came through the game unscathed. So the Red Devils are likely to return to the starting XI from their last Premier League match.
The big news there will be the return of Luke Shaw. He missed the midweek win through cramp and wasn’t risked, but should be fine to feature in the derby. He’ll replace Patrick Dorgu at left-back, with Diogo Dalot returning on the right. Harry Maguire will also return to the starting lineup in place of Leny Yoro, alongside Lisandro Martinez. Matthis de Ligt is closing in on a return but won’t feature just yet.
Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans have established themselves as Carrick’s first-choice double pivot. Carlos Baleba is still unavailable through injury, as is Manuel Ugarte. Bruno Fernandes will continue as the No.10, hoping to continue his fine start to the season.
Marcus Rashford will be hoping to regain his space in the starting XI, having been an unused substitute in midweek. A return for the Englishman would see Matheus Cunha back to leading the line at the expense of Benjamin Sesko. Bryan Mbeumo will start on the right.
Man City team news
Enzo Maresca also rotated a few players between Man City’s past two games, and we could see more changes. Abdukodir Khusanov will be hoping to regain his place at right-back ahead of Matheus Nunes, having started all three Premier League games so far this season. Josko Gvardiol is likely to continue at left-back although Nico O’Reilly is expected to be available after injury.
Ayyoub Bouaddi a start alongside Enzo Fernandez in midweek but he’ll drop out of the lineup with Elliot Anderson coming back in. Mateo Kovacic will have to make do with another substitute role. Rayan Cherki looks to have the No.10 spot nailed down under Maresca.
There is a decision to be made over the attack, though. Erling Haaland will lead the line as the only striker option, while Antoine Semenyo will also feature. But the final spot is up for grabs. Phil Foden started in midweek, while Iliman Ndiaye got the nod last weekend. The latter may regain his spot on the left, which would push Semenyo over to the right. Jeremy Doku remains out.
Manchester United vs Manchester City predicted lineups
Man Utd (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Mainoo, Tielemans; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford; Cunha.
Man City (4-2-3-1): Donnarumma; Khusanov, Guehi, Dias, Gvardiol; Fernandez, Anderson; Semenyo, Cherki, Ndiaye; Haaland.