Confirmed Line-Ups: Manchester City vs Manchester United (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City take on Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in gameweek four of the 2025-26 Premier League season.

The Blues will be desperate to return to winning ways upon the return of club football after the recent international break, having lost successive games against Tottenham and Brighton to leave them in 13th place in the Premier League after three matches.

City begin a tricky trio of games over seven days against their local rivals, who can never be taken for granted when they visit the Etihad Stadium, having secured an injury-time comeback win in the fixture last season.

Pep Guardiola’s men have not looked the part since their opening day demolition of Wolves at the Molineux Stadium, with lingering defensive and creativity issues from the 2024-25 campaign creeping into the new era.

Gianluigi Donnarumma was Manchester City’s marquee deadline day addition as Ederson completed a £12.1 million switch to Fenerbahce, with the Brazil international named on the bench against Brighton before the international break.

City are missing Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush for the clash against their local rivals, with Cherki suffering an injury in training in the days leading to the defeat at the Amex Stadium.

Ait-Nouri was hauled off against Tottenham but despite returning to the starting XI against Brighton in Manchester City’s most recent Premier League game, Guardiola confirmed that the Algerian left-back summer signing from Wolves will miss the derby.

Omar Marmoush suffered a thigh injury in action for the Egypt National Team at the start of the week, which will rule out the 26-year-old forward for at least a few games as Manchester City conduct further tests to examine the full extent of the attacker’s issue.

John Stones withdrew from the England squad in the international break, with Guardiola deeming the 31-year-old doubtful to feature against Manchester United. Meanwhile, Josko Gvardiol was deemed available for the derby by Guardiola in a press conference this week.

Mateo Kovacic is also believed to have completed rehabilitation after undergoing surgery on his Achilles earlier in the summer, with Nico Gonzalez and Ballon d’Or holder Rodri collectivelt shouldering the burden of the number six position for the time-being.

Ahead of Sunday’s 16:30 UK kick-off at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola and Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim have confirmed their respective lineups for the first Manchester derby of the 2025-26 campaign.

Manchester City

Starting XI: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodri, Silva, Reijnders, Foden, Doku, Haaland

Substitutes: Trafford, Ake, Nico, Savinho, Nunes, Bobb, Mukasa, Lewis, Mfuni

Manchester United

Starting XI: Bayindir, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Yoro, Shaw, Dorgu, Ugarte, Fernandes, Mbuemo, Diallo, Sesko

Substitutes: Heaton, Lammens, Heaven, Leon, Maguire, Casemiro, Mainoo, Zirkzee, Fredericson