WHO: Manchester United vs Manchester City
What: English Premier League
where: Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom
when: Saturday, January 17, at 12:30 pm (12:30 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up Al Jazeera Sport From 09:30 GMT, ahead of our text commentary stream.
Saturday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford will see Michael Carrick step into the dugout for the first time as Manchester United’s interim manager, tasked with stabilizing a side struggling through a second bleak winter – and a second change of manager.
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City have put their period of discontent behind them, which saw them falter in their title defense last season, and are once again challenging for the Premier League crown.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at one of the biggest games in world football, looking at the rivals in contrasting form.
How have Man Utd fared in the Premier League this season?
United sit seventh in the table with one win in their last six league games – add last week’s FA Cup exit and the mood on the red side of Manchester is flat.
Carrick’s arrival, however, d Expulsion of Reuben AmorimBrings a glimmer of hope.
The former midfielder, who has won a whole set of major trophies as a United player, certainly does not give the impression of being overwhelmed by the situation.
“I feel in a really good place to be here. It feels very natural, quite normal to be honest,” he said this week. “I understand the job, what it entails and its responsibilities.”
What experience does Carrick bring to the Man Utd job?
Carrick had a three-game interim spell in charge of United in 2021, but his only long-term experience as a manager was at second-tier Middlesbrough from 2022-25.
He has Contract until the end of the season United look to end a decade-plus slump as they give themselves time to identify candidates. Carrick has a chance to put himself in the frame for the remaining 17 games this term.
Carrick wants to put a smile on the faces of the fans who blew the final whistle as United were knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton last week.
“I want to sit up (excited) from my seat,” he said. “I want to enjoy watching the boys play and of course the results should come along. You can feel my kind of excitement because I’m really excited to get started and see what we can do.”
After City, United face a trip to Arsenal. As Amorim becomes the sixth coach or manager since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, a coach with little experience at this level begins and takes on a seemingly impossible role.
How have Man City fared in the Premier League this season?
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City look to be returning to their best. For a team that has won four consecutive Premier League titles, however, they still have some way to go.
City are six points clear of Arsenal and second in the league table despite three consecutive draws.
They are still in the hunt for four trophies and a winning run – similar to their five in 2023 – cannot be ruled out.
Indeed, City stole the headlines in January with the signing of Antoine Semenyo with their own narrative twist.
Two games, two goals, and Etihad faithful Semenyo has injected a dose of unpredictability into Guardiola’s well-oiled machine.
City’s three draws gave them valuable points in the title race, with their recent form suggesting they are rediscovering their ruthless edge, with a 10-1 FA Cup demolition of League One side Exeter City and a 2-0 League Cup semi-final win over Newcastle United on Tuesday.
What happened the last time United played City in the Manchester derby?
city Defeated Amorim’s United 3-0 In the first Premier League meeting of the season in September.
City’s goal-scoring machine Erling Haaland struck twice at the Etihad Stadium, with Phil Foden netting the second.
What happened in the relevant match last season?
Last season’s Premier League encounter was decided at Old Trafford 0-0 draw On April 6.
United were already a long way from their goal of Champions League qualification but City’s place at the top table of European football was still in doubt.
United also had an eye on the upcoming Europa League final against Tottenham, which ultimately ended in defeat.
When was the last time United beat City in the Manchester derby?
United’s last win in the derby came last season 2-1 win In a Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium.
City took the lead through Josco Guardiola’s first-half strike with two minutes remaining in the match, but Amorim had one of his finest hours.
Amad Diallo delighted the away support with a late equaliser, which soon turned to delirium, however, when Bruno Fernandes scored an injury-time penalty.
head-to-head
This is the 197th Manchester derby, the first ever in England’s old Second Division in 1894 and resulting in a 5–2 victory for United at City.
In total, United have won 79 competitions and City have claimed the spoils on 62 occasions.
Manchester United team news
Harry Maguire has returned to fitness, and Brian Mbuyomo and Amad Diallo have returned from Africa Cup of Nations duty, adding depth to a squad that looked threadbare.
Nausair Mazrouei remains with Morocco at the AFCON ahead of their final on Sunday, while defender Matthijs de Ligt is injured and forward Shea Lacey is suspended after being shown a second yellow in last weekend’s FA Cup defeat by Brighton.
Predicted Manchester United Lineup
lamens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Maino; Fernandes, Cunha; Cesco
Manchester City Team News
Guardiola is counting on Omar Marmoush’s return from AFCON to take the attacking load off a “fatigued” Haaland. Marmoush’s Egypt lost 1-0 to Senegal in Wednesday’s AFCON semi-final, but City will have to wait for the forward’s return until the tournament’s third-place playoff on Saturday.
Haaland, who once again tops the Premier League scoring charts with 20 goals, played Tuesday’s full match, including a 10-minute injury time. However, he did not score from open play on 20 December in a 3–0 win over West Ham United.
“Hopefully Omar will be back soon to rest Erling because Erling is tired,” Guardiola said on Tuesday.
Josko Guardiola, Mateo Kovacic, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Oscar Bob and Savinho are all absent through injury.
Predicted Manchester City Lineup
Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Allen, O’Reilly; Rodri; Bernardo, Cherky, Foden, Semenyo; Holland