Five Things Learned: Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City slumped to a disappointing derby day defeat against Manchester United in the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola’s side arrived at Old Trafford on Saturday in mixed Premier League form off the back of three consecutive draws to Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion in the opening weeks of 2026.

Manchester United started the better of the two and just past the half-hour mark, Amad Diallo rounded Gianluigi Donnarumma to slot home. However, the goal was ruled out for offside and soon after, Bruno Fernandes also thought he had scored, but this too was ruled out for offside.

A goalless stalemate at the break, both sides looked to attack more in the second-half with Donnarumma again pulling off a brilliant double save to prevent Manchester United from scoring.

The Italian international then stopped Byan Mbeumo expertly but could not deny the Cameroon international just minutes later as he opened the scoring. With under a quarter of an hour left, Patrick Dorgu doubled the lead from a whipped-in low ball by Matheus Cunha.

Substitute Mason Mount thought he had added a third deep into injury time, but a check from the Video Assistant Referee ruled out the goal for offside – making it three disallowed on the day for the hosts.

Here are Five Things We Learned from the first Manchester Derby in 2026!

Winless streak extend to four

Despite some great performances in the domestic cup competitions this past week, Saturday lunchtime’s result at Old Trafford means Manchester City are without a win in four Premier League games.

For a team supposed to be challenging Arsenal in what is quickly becoming a title procession rather than a race, this is simply not good enough.

It is no secret that Manchester United have been poor this season, facing problems off the pitch as well as on it, but Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City managed to make their opponents look like prime Barcelona.

The sky blues looked fresh out of ideas and did not react to going behind, leading to their rivals doubling their lead not long after. Losing these games is what loses you the title in the end, and come May, Guardiola could well look back at this match as the one that cost them.

Imperious Donnarumma

In a match where the majority of Manchester City’s star-studded brigade failed to impress heavily, one standout performer was the man between the sticks for the visitors to Old Trafford.

It is no secret that Gianluigi Donnarumma has been an excellent signing at the Etihad Stadium, having been imperious since his debut against Manchester United last September.

Now, against the same opposition and several months later, the big Italian once again proved his weight in gold; a brilliant double-save against Diallo and Casemiro, as well as a later stop from Bryan Mbeumo to preserve parity before the hosts eventually broke the deadlock.

Manchester City may have lost the contest, but that scoreline would have been far heavier if not for the efforts of Gianluigi Donnarumma throughout.

City need to work on corners

Manchester City looked far from their best at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, with what seemed like a nervy first half. Pep Guardiola’s men grew into the game in the second half, but one problem which persisted throughout the game was the corners.

The majority of City’s corners in the Manchester derby either failed to find a player in sky blue, with either hitting the first United player defending or being caught by Senne Lammens in between the hosts’ posts.

This is certainly an area of the Citizens’ game which needs some serious work on, as too many chances are being squandered in pivotal games in what is heating up to be a frantic Premier League title race.

Reijnders should have started

I haven’t often criticised Pep Guardiola’s starting line-ups this season, often content with his selections each game. However, one exclusion from Saturday’s XI left me puzzled as Tijjani Reijnders was left on the bench.

The Dutchman has been in fantastic form in recent weeks, notching five goals in all competitions since the start of December. Even if it is argued that he needed a rest, there were several players out on that pitch who had played just as many minutes, if not more.

Reijnders came on for a late cameo and already looked better than his teammates, carving out a chance to halve the deficit. If the decision to bench the Dutch international was tactical, then it was a failure, as the City engine room was missing that spark which he has provided.

Hats off to Max Alleyne

Two weeks ago, Max Alleyne was out on loan at Watford for the course of the ongoing campaign, impressing for the Hornets with his assured defensive style, despite being just 20 years old.

Fastforward to now, and the youngster has made as many as four appearances for Manchester City, including a first goal, a semi-final win and a maiden Manchester derby.

The way the Bristol-born defender has taken to life within City’s first team is admirable, and he does not look out of place in a team full of superstars, and he once again showed in the 45 minutes on Saturday, with City looking far worse after he departed at the break.

If Max Alleyne keeps up these assured performances, it is safe to say his future very much lies at the club after fortune presented him with an unlikely path to Pep Guardiola’s XI week in, week out.