Manchester United welcome Manchester City to Old Trafford on Sunday in a Manchester derby that carries early-season significance for both clubs, even if neither manager would frame it as decisive so soon in the campaign.
Michael Carrick's United have made a stuttering start under his first full season in charge, taking just four points from three Premier League games while conceding at least two goals in every outing. Results away at newly promoted Hull City and at Everton have added pressure, though Carrick can point to a strong recent record against City, including a 2-0 win at Old Trafford in January. United have also been prolific at home, scoring nine goals in their two league matches at Old Trafford this season.
Enzo Maresca, meanwhile, is unbeaten in his opening matches as City boss and can extend the champions' perfect start to a fourth straight win with victory in Manchester. It would be his first taste of the derby as a manager, and a win would open up an eight-point gap over their rivals. City have not always been convincing, needing to battle past Coventry City at home last time out, but their results have remained positive.
For the derby, Carrick made changes to his side that drew 2-2 with Everton, bringing in Marcus Rashford in place of Benjamin Sesko, which pushed Bryan Mbeumo into a central striking role. Patrick Dorgu continued at left-back with Luke Shaw still troubled by injury, while Diogo Dalot and Harry Maguire also came into the XI. United lined up: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Dorgu; Mainoo, Tielemans; Cunha, Fernandes, Rashford; Mbeumo.
Maresca made just one change from the side that beat Porto in the Champions League during midweek, with Elliot Anderson replacing Ayyoub Bouaddi. Nico O'Reilly returned from injury to take a place among the substitutes. City's line-up read: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Fernandez; Foden, Cherki, Semenyo; Haaland.
Sesko's recent form offered Carrick a boost heading into the fixture, even with the Slovenian starting on the bench. The striker scored in the draw with Everton after coming off the bench and followed it with another goal in a 4-0 Champions League win over Sabah in midweek. Carrick praised his qualities before kick-off, saying: "There's not many around that give you what Ben does in terms of physicality, playing on the last line and his speed to run in behind. It's great to have him back at this level after him working to get his fitness back. A couple of goals, good minutes in him, we're really pleased with him."
Ahead of his first Manchester derby as a manager, Maresca reflected on previous experiences of fierce rivalries during his career in Italy and Spain, saying: "I have been involved in different ones. The worst one is Olympiacos v Panathinaikos. That is very hot. Again, I was in Italy with Juventus, so you went to Torino, in Seville, Betis, as a manager, with Chelsea, different ones. I think they are all special games for everyone, for the fans, first of all, for the club, for the players, for the coaching staff. I want these kind of games, I like these kind of games. The most important thing is the players are focussed."
The build-up to the match also touched on comments from City new signing Elliot Anderson, who had described City as the "kings of Manchester" following his £116million move from Nottingham Forest. Maresca defended the remark, suggesting it reflected the generation Anderson grew up in. "Probably the reason why Elliot said that is because he grew up in the last 15 years. I think Manchester City were unbelievable in what they achieved," Maresca said. "So it was normal when Elliot said that. If you go back it's a different picture, but for me the reason Elliot said that is because when he grew up Manchester City was dominant."
Carrick, when asked about the comment, declined to fully endorse it but acknowledged United's recent history. "I'm definitely not using that phrase at all, no," he said. "We know that, and we're humble enough and realistic enough to know where we've come from in recent history, and we need to and want to be better, and we want to be challenging more. So, that's where we're at. It doesn't mean that we can't and we won't. It means we still hope, we believe, and we expect that we can be and we should be, but I understand the bigger picture."
With both sides producing entertaining, high-scoring football so far this season, another open encounter at Old Trafford appeared likely, with the outcome set to shape the mood in both dressing rooms heading into the international break.
Based on reporting from The Independent, The Guardian, and The Standard.