Manchester United is limping into the 199th Manchester derby with a shaky 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss record to kick off the 2026/27 Premier League season. Meanwhile, crosstown rivals Manchester City are absolutely rolling, totally unbeaten after taking down Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Coventry City. This isn’t just another game, it’s the biggest test yet for Michael Carrick’s squad this early in the campaign.
United’s Early Season Rollercoaster and Derby History
Their 2026/27 start has been a real head-scratcher. They dropped the opening weekend match at Hull, then pulled off a comeback rout against newly promoted Ipswich, which was awesome to see. But then Everton snagged a draw with a last-gasp strike in their most recent outing. Talk about a wild ride! Last season, they finished third with 71 points, which was their best Premier League finish since 2022/23. But let’s be real, it’s been a whopping 12 complete campaigns since they finished above City. Ouch. This Thursday night, they also kick off their European football schedule against Sabah, so that’s another thing they’ll have to adapt to.
The derby history adds even more spice. United actually won this exact fixture last season, a clean 2-0 victory. But they haven’t beaten City twice in a row at home in the Premier League since a three-game run from 2008/09 to 2010/11. Overall, out of 58 Premier League clashes, United has a slight edge with 27 victories to City’s 21. City has scored more goals, 84 to 81, and it’s tight at Old Trafford, with United winning 13 times there compared to City’s nine. Every single match is a battle, especially this one.
Carrick’s Midfield Overhaul and the Formation Test
Manager Michael Carrick is truly a legend at United, playing 464 times from 2006 to 2018. That connection definitely played a role when he stepped in as caretaker, and later as interim manager after Ruben Amorim left last season. The man guided United back into the Champions League, and he totally earned that full-time gig this summer. Since taking charge, he’s almost exclusively stuck with a 4-2-3-1 formation, which means every player has to be locked in.
This summer, it’s been all about the midfield. Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund, Tyrell Malacia, and Jadon Sancho are gone. In come Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Carlos Baleba, all from fellow Premier League sides. These guys are fighting with Kobbie Mainoo for just two spots in that engine room. They also brought in backup goalkeeper Karl Darlow. Senne Lammens is their undisputed number one in goal. Diogo Dalot is the most used right-back, Luke Shaw holds down the left, and the favored center-back pair is Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez, though Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro are ready to stake a claim with Mathijs de Ligt injured. Bruno Fernandes is the absolute key man ahead of the midfield, with Bryan Mbeumo on the right, Marcus Rashford on the left, and Matheus Cunha leading the line up front in recent weeks.
So, what’s next? It’s Sunday at Old Trafford, 16:30 UK time. It’s the 199th Manchester derby. United needs to figure out their early season inconsistencies, and this is the ultimate test against an unbeaten City side. Can Carrick’s new midfield and consistent formation stand up to the pressure? Every single one of us is gonna be watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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