New goalkeepers take center stage. Both Pep Guardiola and Ruben Amorim acquired new goalkeepers before the transfer window closed. For Man City, Gianluigi Donnarumma is likely to start. The 26-year-old goalkeeper, a Champions League winner with PSG and Euro 2020 champion with Italy, is considered one of the best in the world and possesses the experience to handle the pressure of the Manchester derby.

Gianluigi Donnarumma on the day he joined Man City and Senne Lammens on the day he joined Man Utd.

However, Donnarumma wasn't at his best in Ligue 1 last season. His save percentage was 66.20%, and his in-box save percentage was 62.80%. James Trafford, Man City's other summer 2025 goalkeeper signing, has better numbers in both categories so far this season, at 73.33% and 69.23% respectively.

On the other side, 23-year-old Senne Lammens will compete with Altay Bayindir for the starting spot after Andre Onana's move to Trabzonspor. According to Opta, Lammens had a breakout season with a 76.8% save percentage, preventing an estimated 17.5 goals for his Belgian club.

With his height of 1.93 m and commanding presence in the box, Lammens has been dubbed the "new Thibaut Courtois" of Belgian football. However, he has yet to experience the intense pressure of a match like the Manchester derby.

Two new faces on the right wing. Bryan Mbeumo, a new signing from Brentford, has been Man Utd's most dangerous attacker early this season. The Cameroon forward has made more runs in behind the defense than any other Premier League player (54), and boasts the second-highest speed in the league (22.6 km/h).

This form makes Mbeumo a real threat to Man City's defense. With first-choice left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri out injured, Josko Gvardiol, who hasn't played a minute this season, is likely to start with the task of marking Mbeumo.

Bryan Mbeumo (left) celebrates a goal with Bruno Fernandes during Man Utd's 3-2 win over Burnley at Old Trafford, Manchester, UK, in the third round of the Premier League on 30/8/2025. Photo: Reuters

For Man City, Oscar Bobb returned from injury and immediately claimed a starting spot in all three opening Premier League matches. The 22-year-old Norwegian midfielder provides width in the 4-3-3 formation and frequently appears in the box – matching Erling Haaland with 18 touches inside the opposition's penalty area.

Bobb's dribbling ability stands out: no Man City player has attempted (15) or completed (7) more dribbles than him. In the opening match against Wolves, Bobb carried the ball from his own half and assisted Tijjani Reijnders for a goal, a clear demonstration of his speed and daring.

Does Amorim have Guardiola's number? Last season, manager Ruben Amorim went unbeaten in three encounters with Pep Guardiola: two wins (with Sporting and Man Utd) and a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in April.

Manager Ruben Amorim (left) shakes hands with Pep Guardiola after Sporting beat Man City 4-1 in the fourth round of the Champions League in November 2024. Photo: AFP

Amorim's system is characterized by its adaptability. In possession, Man Utd maintain a 3-4-2-1 structure to exploit space and counter-attack quickly. But when they lose the ball, they immediately shift to a compact 5-4-1, shutting down access to their goal. This discipline helped the Red Devils minimize Man City's attacking threat in both Premier League derbies last season.

Amorim encourages his players to be aggressive, press intensely, and challenge for every ball. In the most recent derby, Man Utd made 32 tackles, winning 54.5% of their duels. They not only defend but also actively win the ball back to launch counter-attacks.

This disruptive, uncomfortable style frequently disrupts the flow of the game – which benefits Man Utd. In their two meetings last season, Man City only scored one goal from open play – a corner kick headed in by Josko Gvardiol.

An opportunity for Sesko, a new role for Fernandes? Man Utd's attack is likely to see changes in today's derby at the Etihad, with both Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount out injured. This could be the right time for Benjamin Sesko to get a start.

Benjamin Sesko controls the ball during Man Utd's 0-1 loss to Arsenal in the first round of the 2025-2026 Premier League season. Photo: AP

Man City have shown a vulnerability to aerial balls this season. In their comeback defeat to Tottenham, also at the Etihad, Guardiola's side conceded from a long ball over the top. Therefore, it's possible Amorim will encourage his team to play more directly, utilizing Sesko's movement and hold-up play to create surprises.

Additionally, Bruno Fernandes is likely to be pushed forward as one of the two attacking midfielders behind the striker, rather than dropping deep to orchestrate play. Amorim used this setup in his most recent encounter with Man City, to good effect. In this scenario, the central midfield pairing could be Casemiro and either Manuel Ugarte or Kobbie Mainoo.

Despite Man Utd's inconsistent form, Fernandes remains the player who has created the most chances in the first three Premier League matches (12). Mbeumo ranks third in this statistic with 9 created chances. The duo promises to be a constant threat to Man City's midfield and defense if given space.

Hong Duy (according to Premier League)