Manchester United hosts Manchester City at Old Trafford this Saturday in the most anticipated fixture of the Premier League weekend. The 198th Manchester derby kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Nigerian time, with both sides seeking to improve on recent stalemates. Manchester City currently occupies second place in the standings after 21 matches, while the Red Devils trail in seventh position with 32 points.
Both teams enter the contest following frustrating draws in their previous outings. The Citizens shared points in a 1-1 result against Brighton, while United played out a 2-2 scoreline against Burnley. Their most recent encounter in September ended in a dominant 3-0 victory for City at the Etihad Stadium, featuring a brace from Erling Haaland and a strike from Phil Foden. That defeat occurred during the tenure of Ruben Amorim, who has since departed the club.
Interim manager Michael Carrick now leads the Red Devils, facing the daunting task of reversing their fortunes against Pep Guardiola’s side. Carrick must navigate this high-stakes battle without key defender Matthijs de Ligt due to injury, while Noussair Mazraoui remains on international duty at the 2025 AFCON. Meanwhile, Guardiola aims to secure a seasonal league double over United to maintain pressure on league leaders Arsenal. The visitors will miss the services of Oscar Bobb and John Stones, who remain sidelined through injury.
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