Man United, Man City experts give their verdicts on pulsating Manchester derby at Old Trafford

Ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby at Old Trafford, Sports Mole's Matt Law and Oliver Thomas discusses how Manchester United and Manchester City are shaping up.

Matt Law, Football Editor: "It would be a big win"

It would be a big win, obviously a big win last season in this corresponding game. Back in January there was the two nil win for United in that game.

To be honest with you, I'm still livid about that Everton game. For long parts of it United were good, for long spells of it they had control, and it was almost like they thought this game's done, we're really comfortable. 

Everton weren't offering a great deal, but you've got to go and get that second goal, and this team just does not do it. 

They continually, if they're ahead, which a lot of times they concede the first goal, but if they're ahead they don't go and kill the game two nil or three nil, and then you're always going to be susceptible to that equaliser. 

They went two one up with the Sesko header, which was a great moment. But then of course Maitland-Niles was always going to smash one in the top corner from that far out. 

You could just see it coming, I was watching it thinking he's going to score here, he's just going to hit one for the ages into the back of the net. 

But I think the changes Carrick makes for the derby will be very interesting. Sesko is building his minutes more, and United have to start with a centre forward. 

Cunha through the middle just doesn't work, he's not been bad this season, but he's just not a striker. And Bruno obviously plays from the right, with Amad still injured. 

But I think it's going to be really interesting to see what Carrick does tactically for this game. 

For me he has to occupy those Man City centre backs with Sesko, because United have this habit of crossing the ball a lot into the box when Sesko isn't playing, which is interesting because when he's not playing they lose headers to big centre backs, and then when he comes on sometimes they don't do it quickly enough. 

It's a really strange watch at times, but he has to play for me. The midfield will obviously be Tielemans and Mainoo, and Fernandes as well. It'll be very interesting to see Rashford, if Cunha does get moved out, will it be Rashford or Cunha. 

For me Marcus Rashford has been good, I was staggered he was taken off in the last game, but there were suggestions there was a slight issue. 

The other thing I've got issues with is replacing the back four, changing the back four. We've seen managers do it, Amorim did it, Ten Hag did it, Carrick's doing it, where you take your full-backs off. 

I know teams do it at this stage, but if Shaw can get through the latter stage of the game, I know he was tired, and Dalot can get through the final five minutes, we don't need to be changing our fullbacks all the time, changing our centre backs, changing our holding midfielder.

It just feels a bit of a mess at the moment. I know Carrick said he's been quite, not pleased, but he thinks it's been a decent start to the season. 

For me, with the teams we've played, a poor Everton side, and Ipswich and Hull having only four points on the board, is a major disappointment for me, and it's a really big football match, this one. 

They play Brighton next week in the cup, and then Fulham, and it just feels like a big period, because Manchester United could easily have a couple of defeats and then it's a really poor start to the season. 

But as we know, when they beat Manchester City last season it was a real springboard. So I'm very much hoping they can get the job done this weekend. Am I confident? No. Do I think they'll lose? No, I think United will get a result. 

What that looks like, whether that's a draw, whether they have to accept a draw, I think would be all right. 

I know City have been good this season and Oliver will discuss that, but I don't think they've been fantastic, and they certainly have weaknesses, as do Manchester United. 

But Manchester United's record against Man City of late is pretty good, if you discount that Community Shield loss, they've won three of the last five games against Manchester City. 

So it's not like it would be one for the ages or a really surprising result if Man United picked up the win, but it's a big football match, this, and these games are massive early in the season, so very much hoping they can get the job done, fingers crossed.

United have scored seven goals this season, which is the same as Man City, they've been good from an attacking point of view. 

If United can find a way to stop those silly goals going in, I'm going to say it's 2-1 Man United.

Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter: "It's an interesting one"

© Iconsport / DeFodi images

It's an interesting one, it's hard to say. If City were at home I'd probably say City are favourites, but when it's at Old Trafford it maybe levels it up a little bit. 

It's interesting, personally I think that game against Porto was great preparation for a derby match at Old Trafford. Was it a perfect performance? No, but I think City did rise to the occasion in front of what was an intense, hostile atmosphere, in what turned out to be a very physical game. 

It had a bit of an edge to it after Marc Guehi smashed into Gabri Veiga and was maybe fortunate not to be cautioned for that challenge. 

Then there was a bust up in the tunnel as well at half time between the two teams. But in the second half City had their goal machine, Erling Haaland, to make the difference. 

He's now City's third, he sits third on City's all time top scorer list with one hundred and sixty seven goals already.

It's just incredible for anyone to score that many goals, but he's still got a bit to get to Aguero's 260.

But he's been incredible for City since he arrived. Described by Enzo Fernandez as a beast and an animal, and he just loves to score. 

He headed home City's first and then had a sweet finish with his weaker right foot for that second goal to seal the win. But it wasn't just Haaland for me that stood out. 

I think that midfield pairing of Bouaddi and Fernandez, both two big money signings, were starting together as a pairing for the very first time, and I think they looked pretty solid in that game. 

Bouaddi looks like a tidy player, so composed and so mature for a player of his age. Fernandez put in a dogged display and assisted Haaland's first goal as well. 

You had the likes of Dias and Haaland, who were all sort of warriors on the night. So it was a hard fought win against a Porto side who were unbeaten at home in twenty twenty six before that loss to City, and on the night they failed to register a single shot on target. 

So job done for City, they're finding a way to win games even if they're not performing at their absolute best, which I think is expected given we're still in the early stages of this season, with City still adapting to a new manager and some new players. 

So I think there are a lot of positives to take away from this start, even if it hasn't been perfect performance wise. 

For me personally, I think one area where City need to improve is avoiding this drop off in the second half of games, which you saw a lot in the last couple of years, and we've already seen a couple of times at the start of this season. 

City seem to have a habit of going 1-0 and then inviting the pressure on themselves, allowing the opposition to get back into the game, switch the momentum in their favour, and create chances. 

We saw that against Porto when Haaland scored, I think a minute or two into the second half, and allowed Porto to create a few chances, albeit not having any shots on target. 

Then against Coventry I think City were put under a lot of pressure in that second half, maybe Coventry were a bit unlucky not to come away with at least a draw in that game. 

I think they had Donnarumma to thank for making some important saves in that second half. 

So City need to sharpen up and remain laser focused for the full ninety minutes, it's so important to get that second or third goal when you're taking a lead, or else it could cost you, and it nearly has done on occasions for City. 

So now they've got the biggest test yet for them this season, on Sunday against Man United. City have failed to win three of the last four visits to Old Trafford, and lost two nil at Old Trafford last season. 

For me United are such an unpredictable side, I think they have been for a while, but this is the kind of game United will always get fired up for at home. 

Old Trafford, on their turf, a big atmosphere is probably expected there. So City need to be on it for a game of this magnitude, I'm sure they will be. 

I expect a strong team to be named, I think Elliot Anderson will probably return to the starting lineup for this one. He was a player United looked to sign in the summer, but City ultimately won the race for him, and Anderson produced a man of the match display in that Coventry game actually, he was a pass master really in City's midfield for that one. 

So I expect him to return, and I think Ndiaye might get a start as well, another signing. That may therefore see someone like Foden or Cherki drop out. I think Maresca has probably got a big call to make there. 

Then will Nunes continue at right back over Kuzminov? I think that's a difficult one to call as well, but I think the rest of the lineup more or less picks itself at the moment. 

If City are on song then I'd back them to win, and maybe preserve their perfect start. It's actually ten years to the day, we're recording this on Thursday, that Pep Guardiola won his first derby, and that was at Old Trafford as well. So maybe Maresca will win his first on Sunday.

I think it will be closer maybe than what some people think, both teams still adjusting at the start of the season. I'll back City to edge this one.