Old Trafford is set for the 198th Manchester derby on Saturday as Michael Carrick begins his second term as Manchester United manager in a significant tactical challenge.
He will face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City shortly after taking over from caretaker coach Darren Fletcher. Carrick inherits a team in seventh place in the Premier League, just three points away from the vital Champions League spots.
City is positioned second, six points behind leaders Arsenal. Guardiola’s team aims to avoid a fourth straight draw in the Premier League. They have recently performed strongly in cup matches, including a 10-1 win over Exeter and a victory against Newcastle. Meanwhile, United is strengthened by the return of key offensive players.
Manchester United vs Manchester City – Match Preview and Team News
- Date: Saturday, 17 January 2026
- Kick-off: 12:30 GMT
- Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
- Referee: Anthony Taylor
- VAR: Craig Pawson
- Last Meeting: Manchester City 3–0 Manchester United, 14 September 2025, Premier League
Team News
Manchester United
Michael Carrick gets a significant boost with the return of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo from AFCON duty. Mbeumo is the club’s top scorer with seven goals this season. Harry Maguire is back in the squad after a recent absence, but Matthijs de Ligt is doubtful due to a back injury.
Teenage forward Shea Lacey is unavailable as he serves a suspension following a red card in the FA Cup. Noussair Mazraoui is still at AFCON with Morocco. Carrick must also decide on his midfield lineup between Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Mason Mount.
Manchester City
City faces a serious injury crisis, potentially missing seven players. Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias are long-term absentees, joining Stones, Kovacic, Savinho, and Bobb on the sidelines. Omar Marmoush is also out due to AFCON commitments.
As a consequence, academy player Max Alleyne may start at center-back, having won 92% of his duels this season. New signing Antoine Semenyo is also pushing for a start after scoring two goals in his first two games.
Form
Manchester United
The Red Devils head into this derby with three consecutive draws, a streak they share with City. United has struggled for form at Old Trafford recently, winning only one of their last six home games. However, they can draw confidence from Carrick’s previous success against top-tier teams, remaining undefeated in 2021.
Manchester City
City also looks to end a three-draw streak that has left them six points behind Arsenal. They have been dominant in cup competitions, recently achieving a significant 10-1 victory over Exeter. Historically, City has performed well at Old Trafford, holding the record for nine Premier League wins at this venue.
Predicted Lineups
Manchester United predicted XI: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Manchester City predicted XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Aké, O’Reilly; Rodri; Bernardo, Cherki, Foden, Semenyo; Haaland
How to watch Manchester United vs Manchester City?
In the UK, the match will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, starting at 11:00 GMT. Viewers in the US can tune in via NBC, USA Network, and Peacock.
Read more- 10 defining moments in the Manchester Derby rivalry
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