Verdict: Erling Haaland to score anytime
Best Odds: 1/1
Bookmaker: Dachbet
With local bragging rights up for grabs on Sunday afternoon, Manchester City will welcome Manchester United to the Etihad.
Manchester City
Starting with the hosts, while Manchester City might have got the new campaign underway with a routine 4-0 romp away at Wolves on August 16th, Pep Guardiola’s superstar squad have come crashing back down to earth in a worrying fashion. Last seen heading into September’s international break with a last-gasp collapse against Brighton as they eventually fell to a 2-1 defeat, the Sky Blues have suffered consecutive Premier League defeats for the first time this calendar year. Despite getting proceedings underway last month with their sights firmly set on recapturing their domestic crown, the former Barcelona boss appears to have a real job on his hands. Coming under hefty scrutiny on August 23rd as they suffered a deserved 2-0 loss at home against Tottenham, Man City will return from September’s fortnight interval this weekend desperately seeking an essential boost.
Manchester City Team News
Ahead of their return to acton on Sunday afternoon, Manchester City have already confirmed that summer recruit Rayan Cherki will miss the next couple of months after sustaining a muscle injury. Likewise, yet to make a single appearance so far this season, Guardiola’s side are once again sweating over the fitness of ex-Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
Bagging what turned out to be a consolation strike against Brighton prior to September’s international break and recording three goals in as many Premier League appearances, the record-breaking Erling Haaland will lead the line this weekend. Despite Gianluigi Donnarumma’s blockbuster arrival last week, James Trafford should keep his spot between the sticks.
Manchester United
As for the visitors, while Manchester United might have eventually dragged themselves to a rollercoaster 3-2 victory at home against Premier League returners Burnley last time out, the pressure on Ruben Amorim’s shoulders remains at a boiling point. Suffering an infamous EFL Cup exit at the hands of League Two outfit Grimsby on August 27th, the former Sporting Lisbon boss has rightfully come under a huge amount of scrutiny. Getting the 2025/26 campaign underway with a 1-0 defeat against historic rivals Arsenal, Sunday’s guests have remarkably mustered just a pair of Premier League wins since the middle of March. Despite landing a sensational 2-1 victory when they travelled to the Etihad back in December 2024, Amorim’s struggling squad are pencilled in as a landslide underdog when they mark their return from September’s fortnight interval this weekend.
Manchester United Team News
Withdrawing from the Brazil squad this month after picking up a recent hamstring injury, Manchester United are sweating over the fitness of summer recruit Matheus Cunha. Likewise, while Lisandro Martinez is inching towards a first Premier League appearance of the season, the Argentinian international is not expected to feature here.
Still waiting to open his account after completing a big-money move from RB Leipzig, Benjamin Sesko will lead the line on Sunday afternoon. Arriving from Royal Antwerp last week for a reported fee of £18.2million, Senne Lammens could start between the sticks and make his United debut.
Manchester City vs Manchester United Key Factors to Consider
- When Manchester City last welcomed their bitter local rivals to the Etihad back in December 2024, Manchester United collected a shock 2-1 victory.
- The Sky Blues have suffered consecutive Premier League defeats for the first time so far this calendar year.
- Continuing on from last season, Manchester United have recorded just a pair of Premier League victories since the middle of March.
- The Red Devils have remarkably failed to register a single domestic win away from Old Trafford since the middle of March.
- Erling Haaland has registered three Premier League goals in as many appearances so far this season.
Conclusion
Suffering consecutive Premier League defeats prior to September’s international break, Manchester City mark their return on Sunday afternoon desperately seeking a boost. With all eyes falling on the Etihad this weekend, Guardiola’s attacking talisman will certainly play a leading role here. Bagging what turned out to be a consolation strike against Brighton last time out and already notching three goals in as many Premier League appearances, Haaland will certainly be confident of exploiting a Manchester United defence who have once again shown a string of glaring issues. Likewise, watching the ex-Borussia Dortmund superstar notch six goals in his back-to-back outings for Norway over the past fortnight, we are backing City’s record-breaking number nine to extend on his most recent purple patch.
Verdict: Erling Haaland to score anytime
Best Odds: 1/1
Bookmaker: Dachbet
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