Michael Carrick will take charge of Manchester United on Saturday, as we host Manchester City at Old Trafford (12:30 GMT kick-off).
Carrick has been appointed head coach until the end of the 2025/26 season, and it’s a mouthwatering fixture first up with Pep Guardiola’s men coming to town.
After Emirates FA Cup elimination to Brighton, it’s full focus on the Premier League now and it’s all still to play for in terms of Champions League qualification.
Here’s what you need to know before the 198th derby…
HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW
Kick-off on Saturday is at 12:30 GMT and the match is being shown live on Sky Sports in the UK.
As always, you can also keep track of all the key info and action via MUTV, the United App and ManUtd.com, including team confirmation, match updates, in-game data and all the full-time reaction.
Wes Brown and Phil Bardsley are due to be our pitchside guests, with Ben Thornley alongside Liam Bradford in the commentary booth.
Highlights will be available from 17:15 GMT, with extended versions going live at midnight as Saturday turns to Sunday.
TEAM NEWS
Amad and Bryan Mbeumo have returned to training at Carrington, after their Africa Cup of Nations exploits with Ivory Coast and Cameroon respectively.
Noussair Mazraoui is still at the tournament, as hosts Morocco face Nigeria in the semi-final on Wednesday. No matter what the result, he will remain in the competition until the weekend, as a third-placed play-off is scheduled for the two defeated semi-final sides on Saturday.
Harry Maguire returned to action against the Seagulls, but Matthijs de Ligt has still been sidelined. Shea Lacey will be suspended, following his FA Cup red card for two bookable offences.
City have added Antoine Semenyo to their ranks in January, but Ruben Dias (hamstring) and Josko Gvardiol (shin) are both sidelined, as is John Stones. Max Alleyne, the 20-year-old Academy graduate, has been featuring at centre-back for the Blues.
Omar Marmoush is still at AFCON, with Egypt, while Savinho and Oscar Bobb have been absent recently.
FORM GUIDE
Both sides are looking for their first top-flight victory of 2026 and come into this match on the back of three consecutive league draws.
United were held by Wolves in our most recent home Premier League outing, before the contests at Leeds and Burnley also ended level.
City were pegged back late on in Etihad Stadium stalemates with Brighton and Chelsea, after a goalless draw at Sunderland on New Year’s Day.
Guardiola’s men have been flexing their muscles in the cup competitions though, battering third-tier Exeter City 10-1 before securing a first-leg Carabao Cup semi-final advantage over Newcastle United.
Semenyo has hit the ground running since his move from Bournemouth, registering the opener at St James’ Park and being unlucky to have a potential second ruled out, as the Blues won 2-0.
DID YOU KNOW?
This will be Carrick’s second stint as manager at Manchester United, following his three-game spell in November and December 2021. As a player, Carrick only recorded more wins against Sunderland (16) then he did versus City (13).
Only Erling Haaland (12) and Igor Thiago (11) have been involved in more Premier League goals since the start of November than Bruno Fernandes (10 – 3 goals, 7 assists). Fernandes leads the competition overall for chances created following line-breaking passes (17) and line-breaking passes leading to shots (30) this term.
Thanks to Opta.
RIVALS WATCH
SATURDAY 17 JANUARY
UNITED v Manchester City (12:30 GMT)
Chelsea v Brentford
Leeds v Fulham
Liverpool v Burnley
Sunderland v Crystal Palace
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal (17:30 GMT)
SUNDAY 18 JANUARY
Wolves v Newcastle (14:00 GMT)
Aston Villa v Everton (16:30 GMT)
MONDAY 19 JANUARY
Brighton v Bournemouth (20:00 GMT)
All fixtures 15:00 GMT kick-off, unless stated.