Manchester City vs Manchester United Preview
The first Manchester derby of the 2025/26 Premier League season takes place at the Etihad in Gameweek 4 as champions Manchester City host rivals Manchester United in the 197th all-time matchup of the intra-city rivals. Both sides have had mixed starts to the campaign, with City looking to bounce back after defeats and United searching for consistency under Ruben Amorim.
In this article, we cover the predicted lineups, latest injury news, head-to-head record, betting odds and a score prediction for Man City vs Man United in Gameweek 4.
Manchester City will be aiming to rebound from a difficult one-win-from-three stretch to begin the campaign as Pep Guardiola works to mold a refreshed City squad into a cohesive unit following a $242.83 million summer spending spree.
Manchester United find themselves in ninth place early in the season, four places ahead of 13th place City. After hiring Amorim midway through the previous season, United backed their manager in the summer transfer window with $294.23 million spent to improve the squad that finished a miserable 15th in the table during the 2024/2025 campaign.
Premier League Player News & Updates
Manchester City vs. Manchester United Head-to-Head Record
Manchester City and Manchester United have met on 196 occasions, dating back to 1891 when City, then known as Ardwick, fell 5-1 in an FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round fixture.
Over the last five Premier League seasons, City have edged United, winning five times and drawing thrice in 10 Premier League matchups.
The Red Devils lead the all-time series narrowly, winning 80 times and drawing on 54 occasions.
Fixture Trivia
Gameweek 4 Trivia: Who recorded a hat trick in the frenetic, nine-goal affair between the clubs in October of 2022?
Gameweek 3 Trivia: Question: What current or former Liverpool player holds the all-time record for most Premier League assists versus Arsenal?
Trent Alexander-Arnold holds the record for most Premier League assists versus Arsenal with seven across 15 appearances.
Betting Odds and Predictions for Manchester City vs. Tottenham Match
Premier League Odds Comparisons
Moneyline Odds
DraftKings: MCI -140 Draw +300, MUN +350
FanDuel: MCI -145 Draw +300, MUN +340
BetMGM: MCI -140 Draw +310, MUN +333
Bet365: MCI -134 Draw +300, MUN +320
Visit RotoWire all season for exclusive sports betting picks and our weekly Premier League betting show. Remember that betting apps vary in terms of odds, so we have an easy-to-use odds page that allows you to shop for the best lines at DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and PointsBet. Claim over a thousand dollars in bonuses by signing up at the best sports betting sites using the best sportsbook promos.
RECENT FORM
Manchester City routed Wolves in a 4-0 demolition in the opening match of the season. However, the Cityzens have dropped two straight matches versus Tottenham and Brighton by an aggregate score of 4-1.
United have won once across their first four competitive matches. After falling to Arsenal in Gameweek 1, United sandwiched an embarrassing EFL Cup loss to League Two Grimsby Town between a draw versus Fulham and a late victory over Burnley.
FORMATIONS
Manchester City are most likely to line up in an initial 4-3-3 shape. When City control possession, look for Guardiola's tactical nuances to take shape as a full-back will move into the midfield, allowing the likes of Bernardo Silva to take-up an attacking position further up the pitch.
Manchester United are most likely to line up in the 3-4-3 shape that has defined Amorim's tactical approach throughout his management career. Amorim's methodology of integration for new weapons Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko is yet to take shape as all are fighting for minutes with regular starters Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo.
LINEUP NOTES & INJURY NEWS
Premier League Predicted & Confirmed Lineups
Manchester City Injury News
City have been plagued by the injury bug across their attacking, midfield and defensive ranks since the inception of the new season
Across the backline, John Stones (undisclosed), Rico Lewis (undisclosed), Josko Gvardiol (undisclosed) and Abdukodir Khusanov (calf) are all listed as doubts ahead of Sunday's clash, while Rayan Ait-Nouri has surprisingly been ruled out.
In the midfield, Nico O'Reilly (undisclosed) is a question for the rivalry match after he was withdrawn from England's U-21 squad during the most recent international break. Mateo Kovacic (achilles) remains weeks away as he works his way back to fitness from a long-term injury. The absences in the midfielder will be buoyed by Rodri who played his first full 90 minutes since recovering from a long-term ACL and groin injury in City's loss versus Brighton.
Ciy's attacking unit could be lifted by the return of Phil Foden (undisclosed), who has made just one substitute appearance this season and, according to Guardiola, was held out of the loss to Brighton due to fitness concerns. Savinho (undisclosed) has not appeared this season as his future at the Etihad became muddled in the final stages of the summer transfer window. If healthy, expect Guardiola to reintegrate the attacker. Lastly, Guardiola will be without Omar Marmoush (knee) after the forward suffered an injury on international duty with Egypt.
Manchester United Injury News
Diogo Dalot (strain) withdrew from international duty with the with Portugal and will miss Sunday's derby. Patrick Dorgu, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are each options to play the vacated wing-back role.
Mason Mount (undisclosed) was removed from United's 3-2 victory over Burnley at halftime and will also miss Sunday's match.
Matheus Cunha (hamstring) has been ruled out for the matchup with the Noisy Neighbors after a first-half injury forced the star attacker off the pitch after just 31 minutes in United's win versus Burnley.
KEY MATCHUPS
Erling Haaland versus Matthijs De Ligt, Leny Yoro and Luke Shaw
Haaland is a handful for any defensive unit, particularly when playing against a backline of three defenders. The prolific goal-scoring Norwegian has scored six goals and assisted twice over eight Premier League appearances versus United. De Ligt is likely to feature in the center of United's back three and will depend upon timely assistance from his potential partners Yoro and Shaw to keep Haaland off of the scoresheet.
United counterattack versus City possession
City have made a living under Guardiola by possessing the ball for extended periods in the attacking third of the pitch. As their possession persists, the City back line thins to three and, at times, two players as full-backs join the attack. Expect Amorim to implement a tactical approach that leverages the width of United formation combined with the ball-playing ability of Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo as an impetus to launch swift counterattacks when possession is reclaimed from City.
Altay Bayindir versus Gianluigi Donnarumma
Both Manchester clubs signed new goalkeepers during the waning stages of the summer transfer window, though Bayindir was already named starter over Semme Lammens. Donnarumma arrives at the Etihad fresh off of a Champions League victory with former club Paris Saint-Germain and a reputation as one of the world's top keepers. Lammens is a highly-rated 23 -year old keeper who arrived from Belgian side Royal Antwerp after making 52 apppearances with the club between 2023 and 2025.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Tijjani Reijnders' ability to play balls from tight pockets of space and shoot from the edge of the box should be on full display Sunday. With the return of Rodri to the CIty midfield, expect Reijnders to be afforded additional space on the ball to pick the pass to unlock United's defensive effort. Reijnders has managed three chances created from five shot attempts (one on goal), six crosses (two accurate) and four corners through his first three Premier League appearances (three starts).
PREDICTED RESULT
Manchester City 2 - Manchester United 1
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Manchester City: Sept. 21 vs. Arsenal
Tottenham: Sept. 20 vs. Chelsea
