Man United only has 4 points after the first 3 matches of the season in the Premier League. However, in terms of attacking ability, they performed quite well when Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes all scored. In the first three rounds, the Red Devils had the most shots (68) and accumulated the highest expected goals (7.3) compared to any other team in the league. In addition, their 19 shots on target are also equal to Man City.
But in terms of defense, they need to urgently improve. Man United conceded 2 goals/match in all three opening matches of the season. Optimistic signals have been partly shown when they kept a clean sheet in the 4-0 Sabah victory in the Champions League.
Since Carrick returned to coach United for the second time in January 2026, the team has won 9 out of 10 home matches in the Premier League (1 loss), scoring at least two goals in each win. They have won all three recent matches despite conceding two goals each.
Carrick's first match in the Premier League after returning to the Man United coaching bench was a home game against Man City, where he and his students defeated the opponent 2-0, thanks to goals from Mbeumo and Dorgu. He could become the third Red Devils coach to win both of the first two matches in the national championship against Man City, after Alf Albut in 1895 and John Bentley in 1913.
Man City's Haaland will be very excited about this derby, as he has scored 8 goals in 7 Premier League appearances against Man United, including a hat-trick when he first faced them in 2022. In the Premier League, only Mohamed Salah (13 goals) and Alan Shearer (10 goals) scored more goals than Haaland against the Red Devils.
Only two of Haaland's goals in Manchester derbies were scored at Old Trafford, although Man City has never lost to a neighboring opponent when he scored.
Meanwhile, Man United will hope Marcus Rashford can recreate his previous excellent performance against Man City. This striker has scored in his two most recent Premier League appearances against Man City, for Man United in March 2024 and Aston Villa in April 2025.
Rashford has played 22 Manchester derbies, and if he plays on Sunday, City will become the team he has faced the most as a Man United player (also 22 matches against West Ham). He has 6 goals for Man United against Man City, a record only behind Leicester City (8 goals) and Liverpool (7 goals).
Luke Shaw will also have his 300th match for Man United if he plays in the derby. He did not play in the match against Sabah, but coach Carrick said it was a precaution, after having cramps in the match against Everton. Shaw has started 41 consecutive matches in the Premier League and is a very important player for Man United.
Man City has had difficulties in recent derbies. They have only won one of their last four Premier League matches against Man United (1 draw, 2 losses), after winning five of the previous six matches (1 loss).
The Man United vs Man City match takes place at 10:30 PM on September 13.
