Soccer fans follow the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)Manchester United FC vs Manchester City FC: Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu gave Manchester United a 2-0 victory in the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford in Michael Carrick’s first game in charge. The result means Manchester City could fall nine points behind Arsenal in the Premier League race if the Gunners win today against Nottingham Forest.
Besides the two they scored, United had three goals ruled out for offside.
Manchester City had enjoyed almost 73 per cent of the possession in the first half, but it was United who had the best chances, particularly with Harry Maguire heading the ball into the crossbar early on and Bruno Fernandes’ strike being chalked offside.
With one win from their past seven games and a new manager at the helm, Manchester United welcome their “noisy neighbours” Manchester City in an intriguing Manchester Derby at Old Trafford. Michael Carrick has been handed over the reins of the club after Ruben Amorim’s contract was terminated. Carrick has been asked to sit on the hot seat for Manchester United’s final 17 games of the season.
United are currently seventh in the Premier League standings with 32 points from 21 games while City are chasing the top spot this season, finding themselves six points behind league leaders Arsenal.
Over the past decade, both teams have had contrasting fortunes: Manchester City have dominated the Premier League and conquered Europe while United have lurched from one crisis to another. City’s Pep Guardiola has won 15 major trophies at City, including six Premier Leagues and the Champions League. This season City is still in contention for four trophies. United, meanwhile, have crashed out of both domestic cup competitions at the earliest possible stage, are seventh in the Premier League and didn’t qualify for any European competition.
Follow all the action from the Manchester United vs Manchester City game below
Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu gave Manchester United a 2-0 victory in the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford in Michael Carrick's first game in charge. Besides the two they scored, United had three goals ruled out for offside.
The result means Manchester City could fall nine points behind Arsenal in the Premier League race if the Gunners win today against Nottingham Forest.
Mason Mount thinks he has given United a third goal after sneaking past the Manchester City defence and slipping the ball into goal past Donnarumma after a haring run down the right flank! But after a lengthy VAR check, the goal is chalked off offside! maybe it was not Mount, who seemed to be on when he received the cross from Cunha but Cunha himself was offside.
That might have been offside by mere millimeters!
What a run from Amad on the left flank after being sent on a chase of the ball by Bruno Fernandes. He cuts inside to beat a defender and then takes a shot with his right leg that beats Donnarumma, but hits the upright!
What a chance to make it 3-0!
Oh wow! That's a radical trio of substitutions from Pep Guardiola right after United take 2-0 lead. IS this Pep's way of throwing in the towel?
He sends Mukasa, Ait Nouri, Reijnders on for Doku, Silva and Haaland. Haaland cannot believe it!
And United are 2-0 up! Just 10 minutes have seen United seen two goals past Donnarumma, who was having a great game so far. There were three Man City defenders in the box, but it's Dorgu who sneaks past them and tucks the ball into the net as Donnarumma looks at his defence exasperated!
United have scored twice at Old Trafford and no one who has watched this game would be surprised by this scoreline!
75': Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City
(Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu)
Bryan Mbeumo, who just returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, hands United their first goal of the night!
The goal came after Man United players break after a Manchester City free kick. At one point, United had four players bearing down on two City men at one stage. Then Bruno Fernandes---who has also put the ball into the net only to see it getting chalked offside---feeds Mbuemo, who shoots from 15 yards out. This one Donnarumma cannot save!
United have taken the lead! 25 minutes still left in Manchester!
(Somewhere maybe Arsenal and Aston Villa, who can leap over City if this result holds, fans are shaking jubilant fists in the air as well)
MAN UNITED 1-0 MAN CITY
WHAT A COUPLE OF SAVES FROM CITY'S KEEPER!
Donnarumma saves two shots from United in quick succession. He first blocks a low shot to his right by Amad and then, when United's Casemiro tries his luck at the near post after noticing that Donnarumma in the ground, the keeper saves that as well with his right leg that's sticking out like a TV antenna.
What a bunch of saves from Donnarumma!!!
Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
Manchester City's Erling Haaland is emerging from the shadows in the second half after barely having any chances---or touches on the ball---in the first half. Haaland gets the ball in the box after a poor pass from Dalot in the second half and just as he squares to shoot Martinez is there to shut the door. Just minutes after that chance, Haaland gets a touch on the ball in the box.
So after living in near-anonymity in the first half, Haaland is making himself seen and felt in the second.
54': Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
In the first minute after the restart, United almost have a goal! ALMOST!
On the right flank, Dalot flashes a dangerous cross that dangerously slides across the face of the City goal and there are three United players including Bruno Fernandes at the far post who make a run for it but just cannot reach it.
What an early chance here for United!
46': Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
So Pep Guardiola plays the first roll of his dice as he makes two changes in the half-time!
O'Reilly and Cherki are on for Foden and Alleyne.
City hoping to pick all three points here!
here we go! Second off underway at Old Trafford.
So 0-0 at half time in Old Trafford.
Not sure who will be happier with that scoreline because Pep Guardiola's side are chasing Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. And taking one point from Old Trafford could see them fall eight points behind if Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest today. Besides they have also enjoyed 73 per cent of the ball in the first half.
Man United, meanwhile, have had the best chances so far in the game, especially that header that thudded into the crossbar early on from Harry Maguire.
GOAL! BUT THAT'S OFFSIDE FROM BRUNO FERNANDES!
Bruno Fernandes makes a run off the shoulder of Nathan Ake and gives the slip to two defenders and the keeper before tucking the ball into the goal! There's a VAR check! And it's offside by a few centimetres. Ake's hand almost played him onside!
That would have been a spectacular goal if that had stood!
What a chance for United who have had under 30 per cent of the possession in that first half, but have played with plenty of vim and vigour and created more chances whenever they have had the ball!
41': Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
Now we have Manchester City, who have dominated possession with almost 70 per cent of it so far, getting a chance of their own from a corner. The United defence scatters and allows Nathan Ake to find Abdukodir Khusanov. Khusanov's shot at the United goal is palmed away by Senne Lammens, who clashes into Dallot for an awkward save.
37': Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
Manchester City have not been at their fluent best so far. The latest sign of that comes as Silva gives the ball away and United pounce and suddenly we have two United players in the box with just one defender to beat. But the pass is slow and gets intercepted.
Just two minutes later, United's Amad barges into the box once again with the ball at his feet and rolls it past the City keeper Donnarumma. But that's offside!
33': Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
Plenty of United's attacks have come from the right flank with Amad doing all the scurrying up and down the flank after being fed by Bruno Fernandes in the centre. United have another chance as Amad twinkle toes his way past Nathan Ake and into the City box's edge before crossing in and finding Bryan Mbeumo, who cushions the ball into Donnarumma's hands rather than attempting to beat him with his header.
29': Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
After 25 minutes, three shots for United while City have had just the one! meanwhile, another damning stat reads that
Haaland has had four touches so far!
But in the only stat that matters---goals scored---both teams are level on 0-0.
Donnarumma again saves!
A superb cross from the right side from Amad finds Patrick Dorgu, who takes one touch before he shoots. Gianluigi Donnarumma pushes it out of danger, but that was some slick passing from United.
22': Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
Who would you pick in a fight between Bernardo and Harry Maguire? Bernardo clearly would not pick himself as both players get involved in some pushing and shoving --- of the gentlest nature, we must add --- with the ball going out of play. Before it can escalate, Bernardo puts his hands down, perhaps realising the United defender is almost twice his size.
19': Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
Barely 16 minutes gone, and both of United's centre-halfs have picked up yellow cards as Luke Shaw lunges at Rodri and catches the City player. He was late on the ball, and it's just a knock, so nothing serious. But the yellow is out!
And now both of United's central defenders have yellows to their names.
16': Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
Antoine Semenyo comes alive on the wings which opens up an opportunity for Bernardo Silva. Silva though heads the ball over the bar.
15': Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
United's Dalot gets the first yellow of the game after a high, studs out foot at Doku's knee. That would have been a red card had there been too much force behind that tackle. But it was a lot more tickle with the underside of the boot than a kneebreaker!
12′: Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
Another chance for United! The hosts have started the game with vigour and drive! And they have burst into the City box at least four times so far early in the game with just seven minutes gone!
It's Donnarumma who is needed to be alert twuice in three minutes. First, in the 4th minute, he clears from Mbeumo after United break past the City backline.
Then, in the 7th minute, Donnarumma collects a weka attempt from Mainoo after some good work by Amad.
7': Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
CHANCE! HEADED INTO THE BAR!!
The home fans seem to be in fine voice as we have the first corner of the evening, which goes United's way. Harry Maguire heads the ball at the far corner into the bar from a Fernandes corner! United could have been ahead inside three minutes of the Manchester Derby!
It was Dorgu whose dangerous cross into the box was warded off for a corner by Khusanov.
3': Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
We have kick off from Old Trafford as United start off in their traditional red kits and City are in the sky blue threads.
Anthony Taylor is the man in the middle.
Five changes for United while City making three changes to their last game sides.
Here's the Manchester City XI: Donnarumma, Lewis, Khusanov, Alleyne, Ake, Rodri, Bernardo (C), Semenyo, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Manchester City SUBS | Trafford, Bettinelli, Reijnders, Cherki, Ait-Nouri, O'Reilly, McAidoo, Mukasa, Mfuni
Meanwhile, here is the Man Untied side
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsIntroducing your derby day Reds ❤️🔥
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 17, 2026
IN the 10 years that Pep Guardiola has been in charge at Manchester City, Michael Carrick becomes the sixth man in charge of United that he will face in a Premier League clash.
That number sums up the varying fortunes of the Manchester rivals over the past decade, with City dominating the Premier League and conquering Europe while United has lurched from one crisis to another.
Ruben Amorim last week became the sixth permanent United manager to be dismissed since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Former player Carrick was hired this week until the end of the season while United's hierarchy weigh up its long-term options.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Manchester Derby, where Michael Carrick will face his first big test in charge of the Red Devils.
Wayne Rooney names his next Manchester United manager after Michael Carrick: ‘He knows the Premier League’
Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has given his backing to Thomas Tuchel to become the next permanent manager of the club in the summer. The 40-year-old said that the German had Premier League experience and had won trophies in the past, adding that he had done well as the England manager.
Tuchel’s contract with England ends with the 2026 World Cup, having signed an 18-month deal with the national side in January 2025.
“Tuchel is the one for me. He knows the Premier League, has won trophies. He is doing well at England. Time will tell,” Rooney told the BBC.
