Is There a Favorite in the Manchester Derby?

The Manchester Derby is once again upon us. Manchester United hosts Manchester City in a highly anticipated clash for the 4th round of the English Premier League. The match kicks off today at 6:30 PM at Old Trafford. This encounter promises high drama and could set the tone for both teams' seasons.

Manchester City has started their campaign flawlessly, sitting atop the league table with a perfect nine points from their opening three matches, boasting a goal difference of 7:2. Enzo Maresca's side has secured consecutive league victories against Bournemouth (2:1), Crystal Palace (4:1), and Coventry (1:0), and also triumphed over Porto with a 2:0 win in the Champions League mid-week.

Conversely, Manchester United finds themselves in 11th place with four points (one win, one draw, and one loss) and a goal difference of 7:6. Michael Carrick's men began with a surprising 0:2 defeat to Hull City, followed by a dominant 5:2 victory over Ipswich, and a 2:2 draw away at Everton. The "Red Devils" also secured a convincing 4:0 win against Sabah in the Champions League during the week.

For the home side, Matthijs de Ligt, Tom Heaton, and Manuel Ugarte are sidelined with injuries. Carlos Baleba and Amad Diallo remain doubts and will face late fitness tests ahead of the match.

In the Manchester City camp, the primary absentee is winger Jérémy Doku, who is still recovering from a calf injury. Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that the match comes too soon for him. The positive news for the visitors is the return of Nico O'Reilly, who has fully recovered from his back issues and is available for selection.

Historically, the two teams have met 198 times across all competitions. Manchester United holds the advantage with 81 victories compared to Manchester City's 62, with 55 draws.

United won the last league fixture in January 2026 with a 2:0 scoreline, while City triumphed 3:0 in September 2025. The April 2025 derby ended in a goalless 0:0 draw, and in December 2024, United secured a 2:1 away victory.