Manchester United and Manchester City will renew their rivalry at Old Trafford on Sunday as the two powerhouses meet for the first time in the 2026-27 Premier League season. A 0-2 defeat to newly promoted Hull City was followed by a 5-2 home victory over Ipswich Town and a 2-2 draw at Everton. United have endured an uneven opening under Michael Carrick, collecting four points from their first three league games.
On the other hand, City made a perfect start to their league campaign, winning all three matches and establishing themselves among the early pace-setters. Erling Haaland will be a major threat for United, while Bruno Fernandes and United’s attacking players will be expected to test a City defence that has yet to face a derby atmosphere this season. With Carrick and Maresca facing each other for the first time in this fixture, Sunday’s derby promises a fascinating tactical battle and another chapter in Manchester’s long-running rivalry.
Carrick’s side, however, head into the derby with confidence restored after a 4-0 Champions League win over Sabah. Enzo Maresca’s team also secured a 2-0 victory at Porto in midweek, giving the new City boss an impressive run of results heading into his first Manchester derby.
