Manchester United return to action after the September international break with one of the season’s most eagerly anticipated fixtures.
Seeking consecutive wins at the Etihad Stadium for the first time since 2020, Ruben Amorim’s side prepare for the 197th Manchester derby, facing a Manchester City side who began the new season in ruthlessly excellent form before stumbles against Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion.
It’s the clear headline fixture of the Premier League weekend, and here’s everything you need to know about the clash, and how you can follow the action on the day…
HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW
The 16:30 BST kick-off will be broadcast live by Sky Sports in the UK, but we have plenty of exclusive pre-match build-up lined up for subscribers over on MUTV, starting at 15:25 BST.
Our expert panel will be on hand to analyse the action live from both sides of Manchester - at the Etihad and Old Trafford - before we bring you interviews, full radio commentary, half-time and full-time reaction, and much more.
You can also join us in the United App and on ManUtd.com for a range of interactive content, minute-by-minute updates, live Opta-powered stats and the latest from your favourite Reds, all in one place! There's nowhere better to be on matchday.
TEAM NEWS
United’s only confirmed long-term absentee is Lisandro Martinez, who continues to work hard on his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury suffered in February.
Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount were both taken off in our last game, before the international break, with issues. Amorim said afterwards that the pair would be assessed. We’ll await an update on their fitness this week, and the same is true for Diogo Dalot, who withdrew from Portugal’s squad during the break with a muscle problem.
Ruben addresses the media on Friday, so we can expect an update then from the boss.
City have a longer list of concerns upon first glance, but could welcome back several important options for this one. Rayan Cherki will not be available, having suffered a thigh injury that may keep him out until November. Mateo Kovacic is a long-term absentee but is close to a return from his Achilles injury.
Josko Gvardiol missed City’s last two matches and was absent from Croatia’s squad but may be available. Phil Foden wasn’t part of England’s international fixtures but is likely to return from an ankle injury for the derby. Compatriot John Stones withdrew from the national set-up, with Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel citing “minor muscle injuries.”
He may well be fit in time for United.
Pep Guardiola will provide clarity on all of those players, as well as Savinho - who he predicted a post-break return for a fortnight ago - and Abdukodir Khusanov, who missed the defeat at Brighton, during his pre-match media commitments. His press conference is at 13:30 BST on Friday.
FORM GUIDE
After a disappointing round-of-16 exit at the FIFA Club World Cup over the summer, City showed opening-day ruthlessness to put four past Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, with new signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki netting.
That looked to have provided strong foundations for the new season, but Guardiola’s Blues were shocked at home on Matchday Two by a resolute, counter-attacking Tottenham Hotspur side. One thrilling goal on the break put Spurs ahead, before Joao Palhinha capitalised on City goalkeeper James Trafford’s loose pass to double the lead before half-time.
City appeared to be back on track when dominating Brighton, one week on, and leading thanks to another goal from Erling Haaland, but second-half tactical tweaks from Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler were game-changing. A James Milner penalty and late strike from Brajan Gruda subjected City to another loss.
United, meanwhile, have a win, draw and a defeat from our opening three games, as well as a hugely frustrating penalty shootout Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Grimsby Town.
Despite impressing on the opening weekend when hosting Arsenal, and then again in spells at Fulham’s Craven Cottage, we were left with just one point from our first two games. An exciting first-half display against Burnley at Old Trafford ended with the Reds leading by only one goal, despite a string of excellent chances, and Scott Parker’s visitors made United pay, levelling the game twice to force us into a mammoth late effort. That culminated with Bruno Fernandes’s 97th-minute penalty winner which sent us above City in the Premier League table.
TRANSFER BUSINESS
Since the win over Burnley, United have signed young goalkeeper Senne Lammens, our fourth and final senior arrival of the transfer window, after Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.
City added six new senior names to their squad, with three outfielders: midfielder Reijnders (AC Milan), full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolves) and winger Cherki (Lyon).
Plus, three goalkeepers signed for the Blues in Trafford (Burnley), Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG) and Marcus Bettinelli (Chelsea).
Several regulars have departed the Etihad, most notably Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), Ilkay Gundogan (Galatasaray), Kyle Walker (Burnley), Jack Grealish (Everton, loan), Manuel Akanji (Inter, loan) and Ederson (Fenerbahce), marking a big summer of change for Guardiola’s squad.
RIVALS WATCH
Only two of this weekend’s 10 league fixtures are on Sunday, with the Manchester derby wrapping up the schedule…
SATURDAY 13 SEPTEMBER
Arsenal v Nottingham Forest (12:30)
Bournemouth v Brighton
Crystal Palace v Sunderland
Everton v Aston Villa
Fulham v Leeds United
Newcastle United v Wolves
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (17:30)
Brentford v Chelsea (20:00)
SUNDAY 14 SEPTEMBER
Burnley v Liverpool (14:00)
Manchester City v UNITED (16:30)
All times BST and 15:00 unless stated otherwise.