Red Devils move into top four with Manchester derby win while City remain six points behind leaders Arsenal
Michael Carrick’s second stint in charge of Manchester United got off to a dream start as they clinched a deserved 2-0 victory over rivals Manchester City.
Carrick – who was previously Man Utd’s caretaker manager for three games in 2021 – oversaw an impressive first-half display that went unrewarded, with Harry Maguire hitting the crossbar, while Amad and Bruno Fernandes had goals disallowed for offside.
But the Red Devils did not let their intensity drop after the interval, and Bryan Mbeumo’s calm finish sent Old Trafford into raptures shortly after the hour mark.
Things got even better when Patrick Dorgu applied a close-range finish in the 76th minute, with Mason Mount later becoming the third Man Utd player to have a goal chalked off for offside.
While the win lifts Man Utd into the Premier League’s top four ahead of Saturday’s other fixtures, Man City remain six points behind leaders Arsenal, having played an additional game.
How the match unfolded
Man Utd flew out of the traps and should have scored in the third minute as Maguire planted a close-range header against the crossbar.
Gianluigi Donnarumma also had to parry Dorgu’s attempt from a tight angle, while Amad was denied by the offside flag when he stroked home at the end of another fluid counter-attack.
Fernandes saw a similar effort chalked off after Man City went close through Max Alleyne and Antoine Semenyo – the former’s header was blocked by a combination of Senne Lammens and Diogo Dalot, while the latter curled wide.
Man Utd squandered a double chance 12 minutes into the second half, with the in-form Donnarumma repelling Amad’s drive before smothering Casemiro’s follow-up dink.
Donnarumma then made an even better save from Mbeumo’s volley, but the forward got his goal in the 65th minute, capping a break from a Man City free-kick that he started himself.
And Man Utd were in dreamland when Dorgu ghosted in to convert a driven cross from substitute Matheus Cunha, while there was still time for Amad to hit the post and Mount to have a close-range finish chalked off for offside.
Carrick recaptures Old Trafford magic
It has been a whirlwind few days on the red side of Manchester. After Darren Fletcher oversaw two disappointing results in the aftermath of Ruben Amorim’s dismissal, his former midfield partner, Carrick, was brought in to steady the ship until the end of the season.
Carrick insisted Old Trafford had not lost any of the “magic” that characterised his playing days, and his team produced a spellbinding display here.
Man Utd’s system has been a subject of debate for a long time, and Carrick set the Red Devils up in a 4-2-3-1 shape with Mbeumo playing as a centre-forward. His movement, against Man City’s aggressive high line, created plenty of openings for Dorgu and Amad on either flank.
At half-time, Carrick might have feared that Man Utd would regret passing up several good chances, but they continued to defend resolutely and strike quickly on the counter, with Mbeumo and Fernandes linking up brilliantly for the opener.
Watch: Carrick reveals Bruno Fernandes’ BEST position
Man Utd’s pace and power in the wide positions caused Man City no end of problems, and Dorgu showed tremendous desire to get between two markers and score from Cunha’s cross.
In truth, Man Utd were unfortunate not to win by a more handsome margin, with a few marginal offside calls going against them, and Carrick will hope this new manager bounce continues when they visit leaders Arsenal next week. Man City might need a favour from their neighbours.
No end in sight for Man City’s January blues
Now winless in four Premier League matches in 2026, Man City are in danger of being cut adrift in the title race. Presented with a chance to cut Arsenal’s advantage to three points, they looked tentative from the off and were ultimately well beaten.
In addition to Maguire’s chance and the two disallowed goals in the first half, Donnarumma had to mop up in front of Mbeumo following a poor back pass from Alleyne, while Rico Lewis’ vital interception bailed out Rodri following an uncharacteristic giveaway.
Man City also felt aggrieved that Man Utd kept a full contingent on the pitch following Dalot’s high challenge on Jeremy Doku just 11 minutes in, which was deemed to be a glancing blow without excessive force.
Doku’s forays down the left flank represented Man City’s main method of attack in the first half, and it was no surprise to see the subdued Phil Foden replaced by Rayan Cherki at half-time.
But Man City continued to toil in attack, with Erling Haaland only having two touches in the Man Utd box before he, too, was withdrawn in the 80th minute – much to the delight of the home fans.
Man City’s static defending for the second goal, meanwhile, might explain why they are reportedly so keen to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi. But might that fix come too late to rescue their title chances? They host bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers next weekend.
Club reports
Man Utd report | Man City report
What the managers said
Michael Carrick: “They’re an unbelievable team, they make you work so hard for so many things within the game that we had to be aware of. The boys took it on so, so well and were able to control that emotionally. I just felt like they were really desperate to do well, the boys. To put on a performance like that today, it was a special day. It was a nice feeling. We’ve got another big game next week and we’ve got to build as we go through the season. We’re not getting carried away.”
Pep Guardiola: “When a team is better you have to accept it. They had the energy we didn’t have, so congratulations. They had the chances at the end and of course the goals we conceded were poor. We didn’t control, but in general we can’t talk about this action or that action. We have the duty to analyse the game in general and they were better.”
Next PL fixtures
Key facts
Man Utd have lost just one of their last six games against Man City in all competitions (W3 D2), with this their first victory against the Citizens at Old Trafford since January 2023 (2-1).
Michael Carrick remains unbeaten as Manchester United manager (P4 W3 D1), meanwhile against no opponent has Pep Guardiola lost more games in his entire managerial career than against Manchester United (10 defeats, also vs Liverpool & Tottenham).
Haaland (who had 14 touches in this game) has gone seven consecutive appearances without a non-penalty goal in all competitions, his longest run while playing for a big five European league side (across spells with Borussia Dortmund & Man City).
Four of Dorgu’s five Premier League goal involvements for Man Utd have come in his last six appearances (2 goals, 2 assists).
