In the first Manchester derby of the Premier League season, Manchester United will host their fierce rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford.
United come into the match with just four points from their opening three games, although they did register an impressive 4-0 win against Azerbaijani side Sabah in the Champions League midweek. On the other hand, City lead the Premier League table with three consecutive victories and also started their European campaign with a 2-0 win over Porto.
The clash is scheduled to kick off on Sunday, 13 September, at 16:30 BST (18:30 MSK) at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have some injury concerns to contend with. Left-back Luke Shaw, 31, suffered muscle spasms during the 2-2 draw against Everton and missed the midweek European match, where Patrick Dorgu filled in. Shaw will undergo a late fitness test to determine his availability for what could be his 300th Premier League appearance. Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, and Marcus Rashford are expected to return to the starting lineup after a rest during the week. Striker Benjamin Sesko has scored in two consecutive games, but manager Michael Carrick may opt for Matheus Cunha in a false nine role instead.
United are still without new signing Carlos Baleba, acquired for £70 million, and Amad both of whom are nursing ankle injuries. Matijs de Ligt is regaining fitness after a back injury, Manuel Ugarte is on the comeback trail following surgery on his ACL, while third-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton is dealing with a hamstring issue.
For City, midfielder Nico O'Reilly has returned to fitness after missing the trip to Portugal due to back problems. He is poised to occupy the left side of defence, filling in for Josko Gvardiol. The midfield is expected to feature a partnership of Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez. In attack, manager Enzo Maresca will rely on Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo, and Ryan Cherki, while either Iliman Ndiaye or Phil Foden will compete for the remaining position on the flanks. The only absentee for the Citizens is Jeremy Doku, who is sidelined with a calf injury.
Carrick's tenure at Manchester United began with a solid 2-0 win over City last January. Under his stewardship, Old Trafford has transformed into a fortress, with the team winning 10 out of their last 11 home matches across all competitions. The Mancunians have only lost once to their local rivals in their last six encounters. However, they have been conceding two goals per game consistently at the start of this season.
Manchester City have found their rhythm and have adapted smoothly since Pep Guardiola's departure. Given the attacking prowess of both teams and United's defensive issues, an entertaining match is on the cards. Marcus Rashford has been in fine form since returning from a loan spell at Barcelona, while Haaland has netted eight goals against United in his career. This match promises to be wide open and could well end in a thrilling, high-scoring draw.
