Manchester United have turned Old Trafford into a formidable venue in 2026, winning nine of their 10 Premier League matches there. Manchester City will try to become only the second visiting side after Leeds to leave the stadium with all three points this calendar year.
During that period, Michael Carrick has guided United to the league’s best home return at 2.7 points per match. That figure is higher than Arsenal’s 2.27 across 12 games and City’s 2.25 from 11. United also lead the scoring charts at home with 26 goals, compared with City’s 23 and the champions’ 20.
When Enzo Maresca’s team make the short journey across the city, the 199th meeting between the local rivals is expected to attract worldwide attention and generate intense drama both on and off the field.
Before kick-off, the United supporters’ group known as the 1958 plans to hold a “peaceful protest” beginning at a pub close to the ground. The group objects to what it considers excessive measures in the club’s campaign against ticket resale. United announced on Friday that 685 accounts had been banned, while 464 supporters had received either lighter penalties or final warnings.
Once the match begins, United will seek to halt City’s flawless run of four wins in all competitions. Carrick’s players will also aim to improve on the four points collected from their past three league fixtures and reproduce the result from the start of his second spell as interim manager. Four days after taking charge in January, he led United to a 2-0 victory over Pep Guardiola’s visitors, with Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu scoring.
United’s only home league setback since then was a 2-1 loss to Leeds on 13 April. Their wider run demonstrates the quality of Carrick’s management, while last month’s 5-2 demolition of Ipswich marked his first match at Old Trafford after becoming permanent manager.
United’s away results under Carrick are less dominant. Across 10 league matches, they have defeated Arsenal, Everton, Chelsea and Brighton; drawn with West Ham, Bournemouth, Sunderland and Everton; and lost to Newcastle and Hull. That amounts to 16 points from a possible 30, well below the 27 earned from 30 at home.
Bruno Fernandes is a major reason for United’s outstanding Old Trafford form. The 31-year-old captain has registered 10 assists and five goals in those 10 home fixtures. Carrick’s side would likely find life far more difficult without him, as his hat-trick against Ipswich clearly demonstrated.
Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have also made important contributions, each scoring four times, with Cunha adding two assists. Benjamin Sesko has impressed as well, netting five goals at an average of one every 70.8 minutes.
United’s main weakness remains their defence. They have conceded 13 goals in those 10 home games, compared with seven allowed by Arsenal and nine by City. The visitors may therefore look to dominate possession on Sunday, restrict the quick counterattacks that suit Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha and Sesko, and use their pace to expose an uncertain back line.
City did not apply that approach consistently during Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League win in Porto. Elliot Anderson’s absence may have contributed, although Maresca’s newly assembled team also remains in the early stages of its development.
Since completing a £116m move from Nottingham Forest, Anderson has quickly established himself as a composed midfield organiser. His performance in last Saturday’s 1-0 victory against Coventry invited comparisons with Rodri. The 23-year-old controlled possession, distributed the ball accurately, broke up attacks, repeatedly offered himself under pressure and used his acceleration to escape crowded areas.
United possess an influential young midfielder of their own in Kobbie Mainoo. He has started nine of Carrick’s 10 home league matches, contributing one goal and one assist. The only fixture he missed was the defeat by Leeds, which may be significant given the 21-year-old’s exceptional ability to create time and space in the Premier League’s relentless tempo. His commanding display against Ipswich provided another reminder of that talent.
Harry Maguire has described the Stockport-born player as a “midfield monster”. Mainoo’s contest with Anderson could therefore become the derby’s decisive duel while also offering a glimpse of the possible future of England’s midfield.
Victory would give United supporters local bragging rights and send the red half of the city home in celebration. However, deeper frustration would remain over the Glazer family’s ownership, which critics say has drained club resources and contributed to debt approaching £1.3bn, as well as over the recent measures intended to stop tickets being resold on the black market.
Although tackling illegal ticket resale is a legitimate objective, some supporters believe the club’s methods are overly severe. In July, United contacted fans who had used at least six devices to enter club-linked accounts or transfer tickets, arguing that such activity might indicate seats were being purchased for resale. Those supporters were asked to explain why several accounts had been accessed, list the devices involved and provide photographic identification to confirm their identities.
In a joint statement, six supporter organisations said that loyal fans who had followed Manchester United for decades, sometimes across several generations of the same family, were being treated as though they were under suspicion.
The disagreement has not been resolved. On Tuesday, the 1958 argued that supporters risk severe penalties capable of removing their right to attend games. The group said nobody should be punished without receiving a clear explanation of the allegations and access to the evidence behind them. It called on the club to disclose any substantial proof of serious misconduct or organised ticket resale and insisted that loyal fans must have a fair chance to understand and challenge accusations.
United also stated that, alongside the bans and warnings already issued, another 1,617 accounts had been flagged for further investigation because of “unusual activity”.
The derby will therefore be preceded by another protest highlighting the strained relationship between a proud club and its devoted supporters. Amid that tension, Carrick will attempt to preserve United’s excellent Old Trafford record, an achievement made even more notable by the continuing divide between the institution and sections of its fanbase.
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