The highly anticipated Manchester derby between Manchester City and Manchester United is set to take place today at the Etihad Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 4:30 PM local time. Both teams are eager to secure a victory, especially considering their less-than-ideal starts to the Premier League season.
Manchester City, whose reign as champions ended last season, finds themselves playing catch-up after an inconsistent start. An opening-weekend win against Wolves was followed by defeats to Tottenham and Brighton, leaving them with a desire to bounce back in a significant way against their rivals. Pep Guardiola has expressed his desire for Phil Foden to regain full fitness and enjoy his football, highlighting the importance of key players returning to form.
Manchester United, under the management of Ruben Amorim, have also had a mixed start to the season. With four points from their first three games, including a defeat to Arsenal, a draw with Fulham, and a narrow victory over Burnley, they are aiming for a more convincing performance. Amorim is seeking his first back-to-back Premier League wins as Manchester United head coach.
The match marks the 196th Manchester derby, with United having won 79 matches compared to City's 61. City has not won in the last four matches against United, adding extra tension to the encounter. Last season's Manchester derby at the Etihad was a thrilling affair, with United securing a 2-1 victory thanks to a late goal from Amad Diallo.
In the United Kingdom, the game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, and Sky Sports Ultra HDR, with coverage starting at 4 PM BST. Subscribers can also stream the match via the Sky Go app. In the United States, the match will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock. In Canada, Fubo has exclusive rights to the Premier League and will broadcast the match live.
Both teams are in need of a statement result to kickstart their campaigns. City is aiming to avoid a third consecutive loss, while United are looking to build on their recent win against Burnley. The outcome of this derby could significantly impact the momentum of both teams as they navigate the early stages of the Premier League season.
