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Manchester Derby: Carrick, Maresca eye history as United and City clash for bragging rights
13th September, 2026 03:10 PM
A classic Premier League battle on Sunday, September 13, 2026, renews the heated rivalry between Manchester United and Manchester City.
The 199th meeting takes place at Old Trafford, with Michael Carrick welcoming Enzo Maresca for his first taste of the Manchester derby as City’s new manager. Carrick will look to derail the Citizens’ perfect start, with City having won three from three.
Maresca, meanwhile, wants to extend City’s dominance at Old Trafford—where they have won more Premier League away matches than any visiting side (nine)—though the Blues lost 2–0 on their last visit in Carrick’s first match back in charge.
Since that January derby, the Red Devils’ former captain has overseen nine league wins in 10 home matches. Victory on Sunday would make him the first United manager in 113 years—and the first since the Sir Alex Ferguson era—to win his first two home league derbies.
Ferguson double over noisy neighbours
Sir Alex Ferguson completed a Premier League double over Manchester City in the 2009–10 campaign courtesy of Michael Owen’s dramatic 96th-minute winner in a 4–3 thriller at Old Trafford and Paul Scholes’ stoppage-time header in a 1–0 return victory at the Etihad.
For Maresca, the Italian will look to join an illustrious group of eight managers—including Pep Guardiola, Kevin Keegan, and Sven-Göran Eriksson—who won their first Manchester League derby.
Victory would also see City win their opening four games of a league campaign for the seventh time in club history (surpassing a tie on six with Chelsea), while their 37 Premier League goals at Old Trafford trail only Liverpool (41) for an away side.
League standings
A win by two or more goals would send City top of the table after Arsenal ground out a crucial 1-0 win at Sunderland to move top of the pile, though any three points preserve a 100% start.
Speaking earlier this season, Maresca stressed ongoing evolution and the desire to see his team make notable improvements.
“The main focus is to see the team improve game after game. For me, the focus now is not where we can be in March or April. It’s how we can win the game tomorrow and do better,” he said.
The encounter kicks off at 6:30 pm at Old Trafford.
