Man Utd XI vs Man City: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for Premier League

Michael Carrick has selection dilemmas for Manchester derby at Old Trafford

Michael Carrick faces an attacking selection conundrum for Manchester United’s derby showdown with Manchester City this weekend.

The Red Devils approach Sunday’s high-profile fixture at Old Trafford seeking to build on Thursday’s 4-0 demolition of Azerbaijani side Sabah FK on their first Champions League outing for two years.

That followed what has been a largely disappointing start to the new Premier League season, with Man Utd brushed aside in shock fashion by newly-promoted Hull on opening day before a 5-2 thrashing of Ipswich was followed by a lively 2-2 draw at Everton in which they led twice but conceded a stunning last-gasp equaliser courtesy of Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

What to do in the final third will be the biggest question mark facing Carrick for an early-season derby against the so-called ‘noisy neighbours’, to coin a famous Sir Alex Ferguson phrase, who are led by Enzo Maresca in this fixture for the first time and have won all four of their matches across all competitions so far this term.

Now recovered from a lingering shin injury that curtailed his 2025/26 campaign and saw him play no part in pre-season, Benjamin Sesko has given his manager serious food for thought over the last week after following up his smart late header at Everton with another goal on his first start since May against Sabah.

The Slovenian international may well retain his place against City as a much-needed focal point up front, while influential captain Bruno Fernandes is guaranteed to start as the No10 as Bryan Mbeumo attacks off the right flank.

Matheus Cunha vs Marcus Rashford appears to be the battle for the starting job on the left if Sesko stays in, though it could be that Patrick Dorgu actually moves forward into the position after acing his left-back audition against Sabah in the absence of Luke Shaw, with United likely to need his defensive contributions against City’s rampant attack.

Focal point: Benjamin Sesko will hope to start for Manchester United in the derby

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That would require Shaw to prove his fitness after missing out entirely in the Champions League, where Dorgu, Noussair Mazraoui and Leny Yoro all came into the backline and Rashford made way for Sesko further forward, with Cunha switching from striker to the left-hand side.

Diogo Dalot and Harry Maguire should both return to the United ranks against City, with Lisandro Martinez also in central defence and Senne Lammens in goal.

The midfield pairing of Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans should remain, with the former having played only 64 minutes on Thursday and the latter replaced at half-time - not due to injury - by Mason Mount, who reaffirmed his own fitness.

The game is likely to come too soon for £70million summer signing Carlos Baleba, who is still awaiting his United debut after suffering an ankle ligament injury during pre-season at Brighton.

Amad Diallo remains sidelined with his own ankle issue, while Matthijs de Ligt is still building up his fitness after a long-term back injury that belatedly required surgery and has kept him out completely since last November.

Manuel Ugarte is a long-term absentee following surgery on a cruciate ligament injury sustained at the World Cup, while third-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton is still nursing a hamstring problem.