Manchester United's injury list is growing, with Marcus Rashford withdrawn after 70 minutes against Everton after feeling discomfort. Although Michael Carrick later indicated the problem was not considered serious, Rashford's availability for the derby remains uncertain. Amad Diallo is pushing to return from a muscle problem and could be available for the derby, but summer signing Carlos Baleba remains sidelined with an ankle injury and is unlikely to make his United debut against City.
Matthijs de Ligt is back in training following long-term back trouble but remains short of match fitness, while Manuel Ugarte is recovering from a serious knee injury. Benjamin Sesko strengthened his case for a start by scoring against Everton after coming off the bench. The United manager will have to carefully assess the fitness of his players ahead of the high-stakes derby.
Manchester City, on the other hand, arrive with considerable momentum after beating Coventry 1-0, with Erling Haaland scoring his third Premier League goal of the season. Deadline-day signing Enzo Fernandez impressed on debut after replacing the injured Nico O'Reilly in the starting XI and could retain his place alongside Elliot Anderson. City completed 803 passes against Coventry, their highest total in a league game since 2023.
The two sides arrive in contrasting league form, with Manchester City making a perfect start with three wins from three, scoring seven goals and conceding only two. Manchester United sit on four points after one win, one draw and one defeat, with their latest outing ending in a frustrating 2-2 draw at Everton after Ainsley Maitland-Niles equalised in the 96th minute.
Manchester United will have to carefully manage their injury list and make strategic decisions about which players to start against City. The outcome of the derby will depend on the team's ability to overcome their injury concerns and perform at their best.