Manchester United v Manchester City: Gut Feelings

Manchester City leave Manchester and head towards the edge of Salford as they face Manchester United at Old Trafford. After being greeted by three straight Premier League draws at the start of 2026, the Blues got back to winning ways, beating Exeter 10-1 in the FA Cup and putting one foot inside Wembley after beating Newcastle at St James’s Park on Tuesday night in the League Cup semi-final.

City are unbeaten in 13 matches in all competitions, having recorded a perfect December, and their last defeat was a 2-0 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen. The Blues will go into the match, boosted by the arrival of Antoine Semenyo, a one-time target for United, and the apparently imminent of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. Semenyo has scored twice in his first two matches (technically three if it wasn’t for VAR), and the signing of Guehi will shore up the defence, especially at a time of a defensive crisis.

United are in disarray at the moment. The latest saviour to enter Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim, was dismissed and now, Michael Carrick, an apparent ‘legend’ at the club, is the man tasked with saving United’s season from mid-table obscurity.

They have won three of their last 13 games, and, having lost in the League Cup to Grimsby, no European football and Brighton knocking them out of the FA Cup last weekend, a high-placed finish is all they now have to play for, and the Reds will be desperate for a win against the Blues to keep their Conference League aspirations alive.

It’s a derby that City will no doubt go into as favourites, but they will need to be wary with United playing the first of their seventeen remaining cup finals.

As always, our team are are to give us their views and opinions on Saturday’s match. Here’s what we think this week.

Saul

Derby time! Have to back City with players in form, riding a semi high. City wins 4-1.

United 1-4 City

Thomas

Meet the new boss, Michael Carrick, for now, until the next new boss. What a way to run a football club. Anyway, Yahnited are in a shambles again. Just 2 wins in their last 9, and already crashed out of the League Cup and the FA Cup. Oh, and no European football either. Cool. A City win at Old Trafford and a Semenyo double.

Stretford Rangers 0-4 City

Will

United might have their new manager bounce under Michael Carrick - but after a convincing win in the North East in Tuesday City should romp to victory.

United 0-3 City

Pete

Wary as always on derby day. City on a fine run of form, while United are just shambolic. Well, that’s a United win then, isn’t it? I think we’ll take this one and, while I really want another 6-1 but without the 1, I’ll take any victory at Old Trafford.

United 0-2 City

What happened against Newcastle

A hard-fought match ended with victory for the mighty Blues. Antoine Semenyo, the new bench warmer, scored again in his second match and had a goal disallowed because the fingernail on Erling Haaland’s right hand little finger had strayed offside. Cut your nails, Erling!

Thomas went for a 2-1 win, having little faith in our defence (all part of being a Blue), whilst Will went for 2-2. Pete picked up extra points (and we thought Christmas was a time for miracles) as he predicted a 3-1 win so he gets 2 points for the correct goal difference (getting giddy as only three points behind Saul).

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