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Michael Carrick secured a 2-0 win over close rivals Manchester City in a dream debut for Man United's new head coach as Diogo Dalot avoids a red card early on
Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring for Manchester United in front of a lively Old Trafford crowd
Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring for Manchester United in front of a lively Old Trafford crowd(Image: )
Manchester United beat fierce rivals Man City as Michael Carrick impresses in managerial debut amid VAR controversy
Carrick’s Perfect Debut: Michael Carrick enjoyed a dream start as Manchester United manager by securing a 2-0 victory over rivals Manchester City. This result marked United's first Premier League win of 2026 and brought an immediate sense of optimism to Old Trafford.
Three Disallowed Goals: United were unlucky not to be ahead much earlier, and eventually saw three separate goals ruled out during the match. Efforts from Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes were chalked off for offside, with the scores still level. Mason Mount also saw a late goal ruled out for offside.
Mbeumo and Dorgu Score: Bryan Mbeumo finally broke the deadlock in the 65th minute with a clinical finish following a swift counter-attack. Patrick Dorgu then secured the points 10 minutes later, firing home to punish a depleted City defence.
Dalot's VAR Drama: Diogo Dalot was the centre of the game's biggest controversy after escaping a red card for a challenge on Jeremy Doku. Despite a lengthy VAR review that checked for serious foul play, the defender was allowed to stay on the pitch, much to the fury of Pep Guardiola.
Haaland Subbed Off: In a rare move, Erling Haaland was substituted in the 80th minute after being kept remarkably quiet by the United defence. The Norwegian striker cut a frustrated figure as he left the field, having failed to record a single shot on target during the match.
City's Possession Dominance: Manchester City controlled a staggering 68% of the possession but proved toothless in the final third. United’s tactics allowed City the ball in non-dangerous areas before hitting them with clinical breaks.
Blow to City's Title Hopes: This defeat leaves Manchester City six points behind league leaders Arsenal, with the Gunners still to play this weekend, and seriously damages their quest for another title. Conversely, the win moves United significantly closer to the Champions League spots, adding a fresh boost to their season.
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