DERBY DAY PREDICTIONS: Our reporters run the rule over Man Utd vs Man City showdown as Carrick bids to kickstart season with huge win

The Manchester Derby is here and it promises to be a big one at Old Trafford.

There's a new combination of managers in the dugouts for this one with Michael Carrick taking on Enzo Maresca, having got one over on Pep Guardiola in the last derby, back in January. United were busy enjoying the new manager bounce then, but now it's permanent business for Carrick.

City have made a perfect start to life under Maresca, winning all three of their Premier League matches, while they come into the derby on the back of a 2-0 win in Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

United, meanwhile, were able to coast to a 4-0 win over Champions League debutants Sabah at Old Trafford on Thursday. No matter what happens, Sunday's match will certainly be more difficult. Here are the predictions of the Mirror Football team.

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Manchester United were able to rest their defence in the glorified training match against Sabah on Thursday night, but I don't think it's going to make much of a difference. Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot and Harry Maguire may have been given the night off, yet they have already shown this season they are anything but secure at the back.

Erling Haaland is in form, Rayan Cherki is cooking and Enzo Fernandez appears to have settled quickly. Antoine Semenyo will relish the match-up with Shaw. City also had two more days to recover following their win over Porto on Tuesday night.

City haven't won at Old Trafford since October 2023. United won the last meeting 2-0 back in the early days of the Michael Carrick rebound in January. But I think they will get the job done on Sunday.

Prediction: Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City

This is a tantalising one. Manchester City are sitting top of the Premier League having enjoyed a perfect start to life under Maresca. Manchester United are riding the crest of a positive wave following their victorious Champions League return.

The issue with the Red Devils, however, is that Carrick appears to be struggling to get his defence in perfect order. United have shipped two goals in each of their three Premier League games so far.

And that form is not conducive to coming up against a City side that boasts Haaland. He has already netted eight career goals against United so it would not be a surprise to see him extend that record at Old Trafford.

The first two guests of the Old Trafford season could hardly have been more obliging, Ipswich and Sabah hardly putting up stern resistance to a talented attacking unit.

But in those two home matches, that unit has produced nine goals and an enormous number of attempts on goal. Carrick has built up quite the attacking momentum at Old Trafford.

And that will give them the edge in the first Manchester Derby of the season. City will have plenty of the ball but their vulnerability to the counter-attack will decide the outcome of the game.

United have conceded two goals in every one of their three opening Premier League fixtures and don’t be surprised if that happens again. But don’t be surprised if two is not enough for a City win.

Prediction: Manchester United 3-2 Manchester City

Wherever you stand on the winner of today's match, we should at least be guaranteed some goals. Both United and City have looked porous in the opening weeks of the new campaign and I'm not particularly expecting this to be a cagey affair.

City are still acclimatising to life after Guardiola and it remains to be seen if they will still be able to blow teams away like Pep's champions of old. They have an abundance of attacking riches, though, and the likes of Haaland, Semenyo and Cherki could have a field day against the hosts, who will be bang up for this after a season of progress last year.

I think City get it done. Just.

Prediction: Manchester United 2-3 Manchester City