Match Overview

Manchester United welcome Manchester City to Old Trafford for a high-stakes Premier League derby. United seek a response after the 3-0 defeat in the last meeting, while City aim to convert attacking output into consistency. The hosts have shown resilience at home, and the visitors carry notable firepower despite mixed recent results. With league positions and pride on the line, the margins look tight.

• Fixture: Manchester United vs Manchester City
• Competition: Premier League
• Venue: Old Trafford
• Date: 17-01-2026
• Kickoff: 12:30 GMT / 12:30 UTC

Predicted Lineups

Manchester United

• S. Lammens
• L. Shaw
• Diogo Dalot
• L. Yoro
• P. Dorgu
• Casemiro
• Bruno Fernandes
• M. Mount
• M. Ugarte
• Matheus Cunha
• B. Mbeumo

Manchester City

• G. Donnarumma
• N. Aké
• A. Husanov
• R. Aït-Nouri
• R. Lewis
• Matheus Nunes
• N. O’Reilly
• P. Foden
• Nico González
• E. Haaland
• J. Doku

Injury & Suspension Report

Manchester United

• M. de Ligt – Back Injury
• N. Mazraoui – International duty
• Shea Lacey – Red Card

Manchester City

• Nico González – Injury
• Omar Marmoush – Rest
• Sávio – Health problems
• M. Kovačić – Heel Injury
• Omar Marmoush – International duty
• Rúben Dias – Thigh Injury
• J. Gvardiol – Broken Leg
• J. Stones – Thigh Injury
• O. Bobb – Hamstring Injury

Head-to-Head

Recent derbies have produced goals, with the last ten meetings averaging just over three per game. Across 173 prior clashes, Manchester United hold a narrow edge with 67 wins, Manchester City have 56, and 50 have ended level. City won the most recent encounter 3-0, powered by an E. Haaland brace.

Match Analysis & Prediction

United’s home form has steadied, with one win and three draws in their last five at Old Trafford and eight goals scored in that span. The hosts have leaned on a pragmatic approach built around controlling midfield phases and breaking lines with quick passing. That puts emphasis on Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, M. Mount, and M. Ugarte to manage tempo and feed a front line led by Matheus Cunha and B. Mbeumo. B. Sesko’s recent burst of three goals in three games highlights an added finishing threat within the squad profile.

City arrive with two wins from their last five but have still found plenty of end product, netting 14 across those matches. Their balance against similarly strong opponents has been mixed (one win, one draw, one loss), yet the structure remains clear: possession control, quick combinations, and runners beyond the ball. E. Haaland’s double in the previous derby underscores the primary danger, supported by P. Foden and Nico González between the lines and J. Doku’s direct threat. R. Lewis also comes in on a high after a brace in their last home outing.

Red Devils and Blues clash in the Theatre of Dreams as Manchester derby ignites with fierce city pride and tactical grit

Selection factors are notable. United must compensate for absences at the back, leaning on L. Shaw, Diogo Dalot, L. Yoro, and P. Dorgu in front of S. Lammens. City’s defensive injuries to Rúben Dias, J. Gvardiol, and J. Stones could tilt them toward a back line of N. Aké, A. Husanov, R. Aït-Nouri, and R. Lewis protecting G. Donnarumma. That context suggests both teams may prefer compact spacing without the ball, with United targeting transitions and City aiming to pin the hosts in their half.

The midfield duel should decide territory. United’s four-man engine room offers ball-winning and progression, while City’s pairing of Matheus Nunes and N. O’Reilly, alongside Foden and González, aims to dictate rhythm and create central overloads. Given the derby’s recent goal trend and City’s high scoring despite variability, chances should come at both ends. Prediction: a high-intensity draw with goals – 2-2.