Analysing Manchester United ahead of the 197th Manchester derby | OneFootball

An in-depth look at Manchester United ahead of this Sunday’s Manchester derby.

Our local rivals make the short trip from Old Trafford to the Etihad for a 16:30 (UK) kick-off as the Premier League returns from its first international break of the season.

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With two defeats and a win so far, Pep Guardiola’s side will be looking to use the game to kickstart our 2025/26 campaign.

With the help of Opta data, we take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of Manchester United.

Recent form

Ruben Amorim’s side have started this season with one win, one draw and one defeat in the Premier League.

They lost to Arsenal on the opening weekend before a 1-1 tie with Fulham and then a late, late penalty earned them a home win against Burnley.

United are already out of the Carabao Cup, having suffered a penalty shootout defeat to League Two side Grimsby Town.

Their 2024/25 performance saw them finish 15th with 42 points, their lowest league position since 1989/90 and fewest points since 1973/74.

Preferred formation

Amorim has become famous for determinedly sticking to his 3-4-3 formation throughout his coaching career at Sporting CP and United.

That sees his side line up with three central defenders, wing-backs, two central midfielders, two creative forwards and a focal point up top.

In their most recent league outing against Burnley, that saw Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Luke Shaw in the back three. Amad and Diogo Dalot were the wing-backs, with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in between them.

Mason Mount and Bryan Mbeumo were the forwards supporting Matheus Cunha at the very top of the pitch.

Transfer activity

It’s been a busy summer for our rivals, with several first teamers departing permanently or on loan and many fresh faces coming in too.

Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof were released at the end of their contracts, with Jonny Evans retiring. Wingers Alejandro Garnacho and Antony have gone to Chelsea and Real Betis respectively.

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Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund and Jadon Sancho are all amongst the players spending the season out on loan.

In terms of incomings, forwards Cunha, Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko are all expected to be key figures this season while full-back Diego Leon and goalkeeper Senne Lammens are young but will be relied upon at certain points in the campaign.

Manager

Amorim was a defensive midfielder as a player who spent almost a decade with Benfica between 2008 and 2017. During that time he had loans at Braga and Qatari club Al-Wakrah too.

Upon retiring, he went almost immediately into coaching with Portuguese minnows Casa Pia. After an impressive first season, he moved to Braga where he spent one term.

Sporting CP, one of Portugal’s big three, came calling in 2020 and he won the Primeira Liga in his first season.

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Another league title followed in 2023/24 before moving to Manchester United in November 2024 with an incredible win percentage at Sporting of 71% exactly.

In his 30 Premier League games at United so far, he’s won eight, lost nine and drawn six with a win percentage of 26.7%.

Physio room

Argentinian central defender Lisandro Martinez isn’t expected to be fit for this game, while Matheus Cunha, Mason Mount and Diogo Dalot all reported small issues around this ongoing international break.

How they score their goals

United’s four goals so far this season is the eighth best in the division while, perhaps surprisingly, they have generated the best xG so far with 6.8 in total.

That difference of -2.8 between goals and expected goals is the second worst in the division, meaning United are creating clear chances without converting them at the moment.

They also currently rank top for the most shots in the Premier League, with 58 shots from three games. Four of those have hit the woodwork, which is also most in the division.

Three of their four goals so far have come from set pieces, which is the third most in the league, meaning we’ll have to be wary not to concede too many corners or free-kicks in dangerous areas.

Bruno Fernandes, Cunha and Mbeumo have all had eight shots each, which is tied fifth most in the league.

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How they defend

With four goals conceded, United are very much mid-table defensively so far. That has come from conceding 4.3 xG, so they are roughly level in terms of goals conceded compared to the quality of the chances they are giving away.

That xG tally has come from just 28 shots on their goal, which is the third lowest in the league so far. As for when they concede, United are more susceptible in the second half, conceding three of their four goals so far then.

Matthijs de Ligt has been their key man in defence so far, making more clearances (16) and blocks (seven) than any other player.

Goalkeeper Altay Bayindir has played all three games so far, with a 55.6% save percentage making him 14th for that metric at this point in the season.

Head-to-head at the Etihad

While this is the 197th Manchester derby, it’s the 57th in the Premier League.

In the 28 in which City have been the home side, whether at the Etihad or Maine Road, we have won 11 and lost 14.

Despite our relative dominance of the Premier League over the last decade, we haven’t necessarily enjoyed most of our success in this game – winning four of the last 11 home league derbies.