**Manchester United** have endured a mixed start to their **Premier League** campaign, taking four points from their opening three matches, including a 2-0 defeat away at **Hull City** and a 2-2 draw on the road to **Everton**.
**Manchester City**, meanwhile, have made a perfect start to life under new boss **Enzo Maresca** after suffering a heavy defeat in the **Community Shield**, winning all of their **Premier League** matches as well as beating **Porto** 2-0 in the **Champions League**.
There is still reason for optimism at Old Trafford, with the _Red Devils_ winning both of their home games this season, scoring nine goals in the process.
Alongside this, _United_ also prevailed 2-0 in this same fixture last season, with **Bryan Mbeumo** and **Patrick Dorgu** being the difference-makers last time out.
The first Manchester derby of the 2026/27 campaign therefore arrives with plenty at stake, with **Michael Carrick** looking to win his second successive derby and prove he can compete with the best while **Maresca** is looking to continue his side's unbeaten run.
United's attacking threat
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**Manchester United** have been a vastly improved attacking outfit since **Michael Carrick** entered the dugout, and despite their rocky start to the campaign, his side have still scored 11 goals so far.
As has been the case since his arrival, **Bruno Fernandes** is still pulling the strings for the home side, with the captain operating as a final third killer and at the heart of everything positive the _Red Devils_ do.
**Matheus Cunha** and **Bryan Mbeumo** have also provided the Portuguese playmaker with constant runs in behind and technical link-up play that is very hard to stop when everyone is on the same page.
_United's_ attacking threat will be put to the ultimate test against the _Citizens,_ with the visitors having only conceded twice under **Maresca** as well as being by far the toughest test that **Manchester United** have faced so far this season.
The midfield battle
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**Fernandes** may well be the one pulling the strings for the home side, but the rest of _United's_ midfield unit will need to do their part if the home side are going to beat their city rivals for the second year running.
**Elliot Anderson** has been excellent for the _Sky Blues_ since arriving this summer for £116M and is expected to be deployed alongside **Enzo Fernández,** who reunited with his former manager on deadline day for a fee of £125M from Chelsea, both offering immense quality on the ball and a real threat to **Manchester United**.
If _United_ want to maximise their chance of conquering **Manchester City**, they will need to be aggressive both on and off the ball, and look to hit _City_ quickly in transition to forge opportunities for themselves
Winning the midfield battle for either side will give them the best possible chance of a positive outcome, with both teams oozing with quality in the midfield department.
Maresca's City machine
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**Manchester City** have been almost flawless since the Italian took over the reins from **Pep Guardiola** this summer, winning their opening three league fixtures as well as comfortably beating **Porto** 2-0 through an **Erling Haaland** brace.
**Haaland** has also been up to his usual antics in the Premier League, sitting at the top of the goal-scoring charts once again, alongside **Liverpool's Alexander Isak** and **Bruno Fernandes**, who will both face off in this match.
The _Citizens_ have also demonstrated their attacking variety under the new boss, with **Rayan Cherki** having an excellent start to the campaign as well as **Antoine Semenyo** showing decisiveness in key moments.
However, **Manchester United** will take confidence from their win in this same fixture last season, and repeating the same result would massively sway supporters to believe in his project and for **Carrick** to show that the _Red Devils_ can hang with the elite.