Manchester United host Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026 (4:30 p.m. BST / 11:30 a.m. ET) in the first Manchester derby of the Premier League season. The game is on Sky Sports in the UK and Peacock in the US. Michael Oliver is the referee.
United are coming off a 4-0 Champions League win over Sabah. Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko and Lisandro Martinez scored. That was United’s first Champions League night in almost three years. The league form is less clean: a loss to Hull, a draw with Everton, and 11th in the table heading into the weekend. City arrive with a winning start.
Michael Carrick is expected to use a 4-2-3-1 and bring Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw back into the XI.
Predicted United XI (4-2-3-1)
Senne Lammens; Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw; Kobbie Mainoo, Youri Tielemans; Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha; Benjamin Sesko.
Defence
Lammens should keep the gloves after the Sabah clean sheet. Maguire is tipped to start next to Martinez. Dalot should be at right-back. Shaw, if fit, is the left-back. Leny Yoro is the centre-back cover on the bench. Patrick Dorgu is the other full-back option after his midweek display.
Matthijs de Ligt is out with a back problem. Tom Heaton has a hamstring issue.
Midfield
Mainoo and Tielemans are the expected double pivot. Mainoo played only 64 minutes against Sabah. Tielemans was taken off at half-time, not through injury, and Mason Mount finished the game. Mount and Andrey Santos are the bench options. Carlos Baleba (ankle) and Manuel Ugarte (ACL) are out.
Attack
Fernandes should start as the No. 10. Mbeumo is the likely right-sider. Cunha is the pick on the left if Carrick keeps Sesko through the middle after the Sabah goal. Marcus Rashford was rested in midweek and could still force his way in. Joshua Zirkzee is the bench striker. Amad Diallo is out.
What the derby asks of this XI
City’s attack, with Erling Haaland, will test Maguire and Martinez. Shaw and Dalot have to survive the wide threats and still get forward. Mainoo and Tielemans have to live with Enzo Fernández and Elliot Anderson. United’s best chance is the Fernandes–Mbeumo–Sesko connection that already produced in Europe.
A 4-0 against Sabah does not guarantee a derby win. It does give Carrick a fit-looking group and a reason to start his senior defenders.
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