Manchester City can rejoin Arsenal top the Premier League this afternoon with victory a Manchester United.
The Gunners’ hard-fought triumph at Sunderland last night saw them make it four wins from four and establish a three-point lead at the top.
But City will draw again if they manage to overcome their local rivals.
City midfielder Elliot Anderson fanned the derby flames after joining the club from Nottingham Forest, declaring them the ‘Kings of Manchester’.
Those words are a reflection of how successful City have been over the past 15 years compared to United. After mixed starts to the season, City will once again have a season above Michael Carrick’s men, who have picked up just four points from Premier League games with Hull City, Ipswich Town and Everton.
However, after qualifying for the Champions League with a third-placed finish last season, Carrick believes the perception around United is beginning to change.
Asked about Anderson’s comments after the Champions League win over Sabah in midweek, Carrick said: “I’m definitely not using that phrase, no.
“I understand that, and I think going into the Champions League game tonight and talking about the expectations that are there, I think it’s really good that it’s changed in some ways, and suddenly we’re being asked different things to maybe a few months ago, and we’re in the Champions League.
“That in itself shows the steps we’ve taken and we need to be in the later stages.”
MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS
Left-back Luke Shaw is again absent from United’s squad after he also missed the Champions League win over Sabah.
United make three changes from this game, with Diogo Dalot and Harry Maguire replacing Noussair Mazraoui and Leny Yoro at the back and Marcus Rashford replacing Benjamin Sesko.
Manchester United: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Dorgu; Tielemans, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford; wedge
Manchester United substitutes: Darlow, Heaven, Mazraoui, Yoro, Andrey Santos, Mount, Lacey, Sesko, Zirkzee.
MANCHESTER CITY TEAM NEWS
City manager Enzo Maresca makes one change from the side that beat Porto 2-0 in the Champions League.
So Elliot Anderson comes in for Ayyoub Bouaddi in midfield. Nico O’Reilly is fit enough to take a place on the bench after a back injury, but Jeremy Doku misses out again.
Manchester City: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias (C), Guéhi, Guardiol, Anderson, Fernandez, Foden, Cherki, Semenyo, Haaland.
Manchester City substitutes: Rulli, Ndiaye, Kovačić, Reis, Bouaddi, O’Reilly, Allan, Khusanov, Lewis.
Stats Man United vs Man City Premier League form
- United won exactly that game last season 2-0, but have not beaten City twice in a row at home in the Premier League since a three-run run under Alex Ferguson from 2008/09 to 2010/11.
- They have won nine of their 10 home Premier League games since Michael Carrick took over in January (L1), scoring at least twice in each win.
- Their current three-game winning streak at home has come despite conceding twice each time. United have not conceded at least two goals in four consecutive home league games since January 1972
- Carrick’s side have conceded twice in all three Premier League games this season, leaving them on course to concede at least two goals in their opening four games of a league campaign for the fourth time.
- The Red Devils previously did so in 1926/27 (first five games), 1930/31 (12) and 1969/70 (4), although their attacking threat is demonstrated by the fact they had more attempts overall (68) and amassed the second-highest expected goals total (7.3) over the opening three matches.
- City have won one of their last four Premier League games against United (D1 L2), having won five of their previous six (L1).
- They are looking to win each of their first four games in a Premier League campaign for the seventh time, which would be the absolute most of any team (Chelsea also have 6).
- The Cityzens have won the league on two of those six occasions (2011/12 and 2023/24).
- Elliot Anderson has completed more passes under high pressure than any other Premier League player this season (122), with United’s Youri Tielemans second on that count (114).
- Erling Haaland has eight goals in seven Premier League games against Manchester United, although only two of those goals have come at Old Trafford.
- Only Mohamed Salah (13) and Alan Shearer (10) have scored more against the Red Devils in the competition
Where to watch Man United v Man City: TV Channel, Live Streams Online
Kick-off on Sunday is at 16:30 BST (11:30 ET / 08:30 PT), with live UK coverage on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra.
road Now the televisionSky Sports costs £14.99 for a daily subscription, £27.99 a month for a 12-month subscription or £34.99 a month without a contract.
Here is the full list of International broadcasters of the Premier League.