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Four reasons why Manchester United could upset the odds in the Manchester derby
When it comes to City and United, there's never a dull moment in Manchester, and this weekend will be no exception as the two rivals meet in the last Manchester derby of the season.
Old Trafford will be the setting for Saturday's lunchtime kick-off as Michael Carrick takes charge of his first game as the Red Devils head coach and instantly gets to pit his wits against Pep Guardiola.
City go into the game as favourites, fresh from hitting double figures in their FA Cup thrashing of Exeter and looking to keep on the coattails of league leaders Arsenal in the title race.
However, as the cliche goes, form goes out the window on derby day, so DAZN News looks at four reasons why it could be the red side of Manchester who are celebrating come Saturday night.
There's a new man in town
United host City this weekend with a third different name in the dugout following the appointment of Michael Carrick as the club's interim manager for the remainder of this season. Carrick relieves Darren Fletcher, who had overseen the last two fixtures for the club, and is seen as the short-term replacement for Ruben Amorim after he was sacked earlier this month.
It brings the Red Devils back into the cycle of having a face in charge who 'gets' the club, having tried and failed with the decision to appoint an up-and-coming European coach in Amorim. Carrick made over 460 appearances for the club in a trophy-laden spell in United's side, often cited as one of England's most underrated midfielders of his generation.
He's someone whose playing CV and connection demands respect and has experience of handling the club previously, having been caretaker boss after Jose Mourinho left and then part of Ole Gunnar Solskjær's staff.
He may not be in the elite fold that long-term Manchester United want and need, and his spell as Middlesbrough boss may have fizzled out after an impressive start, but it's a new voice for the players and one that will demand an understanding of what it is to play for the club.
That begins against the biggest rivals and a packed-out house all ready to usher in a new era by denting City's title hopes.
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A system that works
For 18 months, Ruben Amorim rigidly tried to implement a system on Manchester United that everyone else outside of the club could see did not suit the majority of his squad. His insistence on not being flexible ultimately led to his downfall, with his ideology on wing-backs never working at Old Trafford.
Well, the good news for United fans is that Carrick is very much a four at the back man. During his time in charge of Middlesbrough, he used a 4-2-3-1 formation in 112 of 124 Championship games he oversaw, and he'll be astute enough to see that framework is a much better fit for the squad available to him in Manchester.
As well as a formation, it could well see a starting role for Kobbie Mainoo as part of a two in midfield, where the attack is flexible and whether you use Bryan Mbeumo outwide, or behind a Benjamin Sesko.
It's a system that gives them more than a chance when they take to the field to face Pep and Co.
Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
City haven't had it all their own way
Despite the clear gulf between the two sides in 2026, one that has continued to get bigger over the past decade, City haven't dominated this fixture as their status would suggest.
In the last six meetings at Old Trafford, Pep's side have only won on two of those occasions, with United also winning two and the remaining matches goalless draws. United have also tasted victory twice at The Etihad during that time, as well as the teams each having an FA Cup final victory over each other.
It paints a picture of a more balanced rivalry than you would expect from Guardiola's dominant team of this generation and the somewhat basketcase of a club that Manchester United have slowly declined into.
It also means it doesn't feel like Saturday's match is a forgone conclusion, because United sides in worse frames of mind have managed to get something from this game; therefore, this current team, galvanised by a new name in charge, could get the better of their foes once again.
Manchester United FC
City shown some vulnerability
Forget the FA Cup training exercise, because Manchester City actually come into the game having dropped points in each of their last three league outings.
They failed to get on the scoresheet at Sunderland, conceded a late equaliser at Chelsea and were held by Brighton in a game that could have swung either way given the number of chances in the encounter.
They are not being beaten, but they are showing weakness, particularly in defence, where they gave the Seagulls way too many openings and where they are currently without their two best defenders in Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol, through injury.
It presents an opportunity for United to really get at their rivals and test their second-string backline, which has shown vulnerability in recent weeks. Especially as Carrick could welcome back both Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo from AFCON duty, giving the new boss fresh options in attack.
They'll need to be wary of the usual big hitters in Haaland, Foden and Cherki, as well as new signing Antoine Semenyo, but this City team is beatable, and three of their four losses this campaign have come on the road.
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