Manchester United host Manchester City in the derby at Old Trafford as the two clubs battle for bragging rights.
Michael Carrick has endured a tough start to the season with disappointing results at newly promoted Hull City and at Everton, but a victory here would boost the mood in the red half of Manchester – as well as hopes of finishing above City for the first time in 14 years now that Pep Guardiola’s reign is over.
Enzo Maresca’s City side have not been wholly convincing either, struggling past Coventry City at the Etihad Stadium last time out, but they still have a perfect record in the Premier League and can open up an eight-point gap over United with victory at the home of their fierce rivals.
Who will triumph in the Manchester derby? Follow all the latest updates below.
Yesterday in the Premier League: Chelsea’s defence is ‘soft’
In the end, Chelsea clung on for a brave point. Emiliano Martinez made an important late save. They survived a barrage of set-pieces. And when Cole Palmer stood over a free-kick 30 yards from goal, with the last kick of the game, he pumped it into the stands just to be safe. A draw against a team who were, for much of the afternoon, top of the league? You have to take it.
Of course that wasn’t quite the mood at Stamford Bridge when the final whistle blew on this 2-2 draw.
Read more, by Lawrence Ostlere at Stamford Bridge:
Chelsea’s ‘soft’ problem is impossible for Xabi Alonso’s luxury attack to solve
Chelsea 2-2 Hull City: Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro scored for the hosts either side of a first-half brace by Algeria’s Mohamed BelloumiLawrence Ostlere13 September 2026 14:52
Yesterday in the Premier League: Spurs draw another blank
After spending hundreds of millions trying to banish years of neurosis, Tottenham Hotspur so quickly have another hang-up.
They can’t score and, as this inevitable 0-0 draw with Everton went on, they looked less likely to score. That is the greater worry than a worsening record.
Roberto De Zerbi even reached for Italian football phrases, to talk about how this team needs to be “unblocked”.
Read more, by Miguel Delaney at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:
What another Premier League stalemate revealed about Tottenham and Roberto De Zerbi
Tottenham 0-0 Everton: Spurs were booed off as their scoreless start continued in the first goalless draw at their groundLawrence Ostlere13 September 2026 14:39
Sesko confident ahead of derby
Sesko was delighted after scoring his first goal at home this season.
“Definitely, the confidence boost here is definitely big. Now, it’s important to recover very well and obviously focus on the derby,” he told TNT Sports.
Lawrence Ostlere13 September 2026 14:25
Sesko form gives United a boost
Benjamin Sesko is yet to play a full game for Manchester United since returning from a shin injury last month but the Slovenia forward’s form is a boost for manager Michael Carrick ahead of the Premier League derby against Manchester City.
Sesko came on for the last 20 minutes and struck late in a 2-2 league draw at Everton last weekend, and followed that up with another goal in Thursday’s 4-0 Champions League win against Azerbaijani side Sabah at home.
“There’s not many around that give you what Ben does in terms of physicality, playing on the last line and his speed to run in behind,” Carrick told reporters about 23-year-old Sesko, who missed nearly three months after getting injured in May.
“It’s great to have him back at this level after him working to get his fitness back. A couple of goals, good minutes in him, we’re really pleased with him.”
Lawrence Ostlere13 September 2026 14:14
Maresca can call upon plenty of derby experience
While Carrick has been involved in many Manchester derbies, his City counterpart Enzo Maresca will lead his team into it for the first time on Sunday as he seeks to continue his 100% start to the post-Guardiola era.
“I have been involved in different ones. The worst one is Olympiacos v Panathinaikos. That is very hot,” the Italian said.
“Again, I was in Italy with Juventus, so you went to Torino, in Seville, Betis, as a manager, with Chelsea, different ones.
“I think they are all special games for everyone, for the fans, first of all, for the club, for the players, for the coaching staff. I want these kind of games, I like these kind of games. The most important thing is the players are focussed.”
Lawrence Ostlere13 September 2026 13:58
Carrick insists he’s at United for long term
Carrick’s calm authority resulted in 12 wins from his 17 Premier League games in charge last season, with only two defeats. Confidence was high ahead of the new season that the momentum would be maintained.
Despite an indifferent start to the season and defensive fragility, Carrick sticks to the mantra that he is still in the early days of a long-term plan to restore the club’s fortunes.
“All the decisions we were making were as if we were going to be here for a period of time. I never knew how long that was going to be, and I still don’t, but you’re always planning for what we want the future to look like and the direction we want to go, and that was from day one,” he said.
Lawrence Ostlere13 September 2026 13:45
Carrick: ‘There’s a lot riding on the game’
“There’s no way we’re assuming: ‘We won last year, we can do the same things and everything will be the same’,” Carrick, who was installed on a full-time basis in May, told reporters when asked how he is approaching Sunday, compared to the clash in January when United outplayed Pep Guardiola’s side.
“I understand the expectation. Everything was quite fresh and new then, we didn’t really know where it was going to go. The players, myself, the coaches, you guys, were all waiting to see how it would go, and it was a quick turnaround.
“I think the confidence we’ve built over a period of time, and the feeling that we’re getting better all the time, I think that helps us. We know it’s a big game, we know it’s an important game. There’s a lot riding on it.”
Lawrence Ostlere13 September 2026 13:33
Carrick under pressure to deliver major statement
Michael Carrick’s first Manchester derby as interim manager brought a victory and bought him time.
Eight months later, after leading United to a third-placed finish and being appointed on a permanent basis, expectation has soared and Sunday’s clash with Manchester City is being viewed as a measure of how far his rebuilding job has progressed.
United’s former midfield schemer has overseen only one win, against Ipswich Town, in the opening three Premier League matches. A humbling loss at Hull City and a draw at Everton have tempered optimism generated by last season’s revival.
Thursday’s 4-0 victory over Sabah in the Champions League was a welcome boost ahead of the visit of City, but Carrick knows Sunday will provide the acid test.
Lawrence Ostlere13 September 2026 13:18
Manchester derby
Manchester United host Manchester City in the derby at Old Trafford as the two clubs battle for bragging rights.
Michael Carrick has endured a tough start to the season with disappointing results at newly promoted Hull City and at Everton, but a victory here would boost the mood in the red half of Manchester – as well as hopes of finishing above City for the first time in 14 years now that Pep Guardiola’s reign is over.
Enzo Maresca’s City side have not been wholly convincing either, struggling past Coventry City at the Etihad Stadium last time out, but they still have a perfect record in the Premier League and can open up an eight-point gap over United with victory at the home of their fierce rivals.
Who will triumph in the Manchester derby?
Lawrence Ostlere13 September 2026 13:06
Manchester derby
Good afternoon and welcome along to live coverage of the Manchester derby. Who will land a blow in the first derby of the season? We’re looking forward to this one…
Lawrence Ostlere13 September 2026 13:00