Manchester United

Jess Anderson
BBC Sport journalist

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The disputed Erling Haaland goal came after a first half laced with controversy, with Phil Foden shown a straight red for kicking out at midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

Manchester City midfielder Foden picked up the ball wide on the right-hand side in his own half and was closed down by Fernandes, who tripped him.

Foden then kicked out at the body of the Manchester United captain while on the ground and was shown a straight red card by the referee.

Replays showed that Fernandes kicked Foden in the back first, before the City man retaliated.

The incident was checked by the VAR, who confirmed the on-field decision; Fernandes was not shown a card.

Pundits were divided on whether Foden should have seen red and whether Fernandes was the man at fault.

Former United forward Wayne Rooney did not believe it was a red, saying "it was more of a flick or a gesture, than a kick out".

Ex-United defender Gary Neville said he was "surprised" Fernandes did not receive a booking for his role while former Old Trafford midfielder Roy Keane said the fault lay with the Portuguese.

"Foden gets up and reacts obviously, so he's sent off," he said. "Fernandes catches him and gives him a little kick. I guess it's classed as violent. But Fernandes is the one who is violent here - I don't think Foden should have a red card."

Dale Johnson, BBC Sport football issues correspondent, said: "The referee and VAR would have to deem it violent conduct rather than just petulance from Fernandes.

"The guidance changed some years ago to factor that in, so David Beckham's kick on Diego Simeone in the 1998 World Cup would not result in a sending off today.

"It looked to me like there was little to no contact from Fernandes, and if there was it was limited force and wasn't followed through.

"So Bruno's act would be seen as a yellow card offence, which the VAR obviously can't get involved in."

Watch ex-Premier League midfielder Danny Murphy and Rooney debate the sending off on Match of the Day below...

Watch Sunday's episode of Match of the Day on BBC iPlayer

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Manchester United and Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Man Utd fans

Adrian: I just think United lack some real talent. It feels like we are getting left behind. This indifferent performance seems to be the norm nowadays. I think United need a summit at the very least to discuss the club in totality. I think Sir Alex Ferguson would be ideal to head up it up. City are now where United should be.

Ruso: Time's up for Carrick. At this rate United will not even finish in the top 10. Must stop playing Cunha as a striker. Sesko provides much more danger in the box than Cunha.

Mark: Not sure what is going on at United - proven striker who does not start games and an attacking left-sided player at left-back. While I think Carrick can turn things around, he needs to push to get proper cover at left-back if Amass is not ready and trust his only out-and-out striker to start. The only bright sparks seem to come from Lammens, Mainoo and Mbeumo. The less said about the never-ending list of mistakes by VAR, the better. VAR is not fit for purpose, in my opinion.

Simon: The awful decision to allow the goal to stand aside, this latest poor performance and loss showed the biggest United flaw - attitude. As soon as the red card was issued, I knew the game was going to be tougher. We didn't press and we didn't force mistakes. We had no hunger, no desire to show up our biggest rivals and no-one on the bench capable of changing the game. What has Manchester United come to when winning against Sabah is the highlight of the week?

Man City fans

David: A statement win for us. The battling spirit, control and resilience of the 10 who stayed on the pitch was awesome, but it was telling that we improved after Foden went off. Ridiculous reaction to the Fernandes kick. I won't be upset to see him go if the club decides he's had his chance. The contrast between his behaviour and the rest of the team was stark. That said, the officiating of that game was a joke - how Fernandes stayed on the pitch is beyond me and the goal was very marginal. But, a great step forward - in Enzo we trust!

Doug: City are still learning off each other and the new system, but they rode their luck and fought well. Probably a double red. Red for Fernandes for the bad tackle and kick, then Foden shouldn't retaliate. Pleased with the resilience and a team-bonding win.

Brian: What a result and how good does this feel for the team and fans? Derby matches are always competitive and this lived up to all expectations. City proved that this squad can only get better with each game. They have passion, belief, skill and determination. It was not easy and everyone played their part when going down to 10 men. I watched this in Majorca and it felt great to sing Blue Moon on a fabulous Sunday evening. City are very much back in business.

Sajid: If this was a Guardiola team then United would have won it. This Maresca team is more robust in defence and will not concede many goals. Gone are the days of fully fledged attacking and possession domination by City.

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

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The curiosity about this incident is that the goal was initially disallowed for the wrong reason. Erling Haaland was flagged offside when he shouldn't have been.

But as it turned out, the goal should have been ruled out because Enzo Fernandez was offside.

There is one key part of the offside law which applies to Fernandez here. A player is offside if they are:

"Clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent."

Both parts of that clause must be met. It is possible for a player in an offside position to attempt to play a ball and not commit an offence – there must be impact on an opponent too.

As the ball came in, Fernandez threw himself to try to head it, with Lisandro Martinez directly behind him.

Video assistant referee Matt Donohue should ask himself if Fernandez's action would have influenced Martinez.

In other words: If Fernandez had not jumped for the attempted header, would Martinez have made a different decision over playing the ball?

If the ball had been out of reach for Fernandez, or for Martinez, then there is an argument to give the goal.

And also: There would have been no offside had Fernandez made no attempt to play the ball.

But he did. And as it went just a yard in front of Martinez too, it is very difficult to argue Fernandez did not commit an offside offence.

There is also an argument that the actions of Fernandez influence the positioning of goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

However, the goal was originally ruled out for offside against Haaland - which was incorrect. So that decision had to be overturned.

And then, the VAR should have sent referee Michael Oliver to the monitor for the subjective offence by Fernandez.

It would have created the odd situation where a disallowed goal was reviewed to remain ruled out - but this is what should have happened.

It was a clear offside offence by Fernandez and will go down as a VAR mistake.

Was the VAR too concerned with a possible touch by Fernandez?

If so, did the VAR forget that Fernandez was offside, and not consider the subjective offence? It seems to be the most logical explanation.

A similar thing happened in a game between Arsenal and Brentford in February 2023 when a goal by an offside Christian Norgaard was not disallowed.

Read more on the incident here

Match of the Day pundits Wayne Rooney and Danny Murphy find it "baffling" that Erling Haaland's winning goal in the Manchester derby was not ruled out by VAR, but think Phil Foden's red card was the correct decision.

Read more:Refereeing body admits judgement error over Haaland derby winner

Borussia Dortmund have joined Manchester United in showing interest in Leicester City midfielder Louis Page, with the German club sending scouts to watch the 18-year-old. (Teamtalk), external

Juventus are not prepared to sell 26-year-old Pierre Kalulu in the January transfer window, with Manchester United and Liverpool both linked with a possible move for the France defender. (Manchester Evening News), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, speaking to BBC Sport: "I thought Manchester United were the better team and dominated Manchester City up until half-time, but they gave away too many free-kicks and allowed the game to be slowed down which suited City perfectly.

"Once City got their goal they managed the game brilliantly and United just couldn't find enough quality, especially in the final third.

"Erling Haaland's goal should not have stood - it was offside - but as soon as City went ahead they used all their nous and game management to frustrate United. They restricted them to pretty much one chance and didn't look in any danger at all.

"United are already eight points behind City and Michael Carrick will be disappointed with how they've started, there's no doubt about that. There have been some good moments but one win from four league matches tells its own story.

"When the transfer window closed, I felt United still needed better players - to not only to provide competition for places and cover across all competitions, but to come on in games and provide that extra quality and change games.

"You were just waiting for someone to be brought on and make an impact, but you looked at the bench and there weren't many attacking threats to call on. It was all a bit toothless."

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick, speaking to BBC Match of the Day, was furious with the decision to allow Erling Haaland's goal:

"The decision for the goal is absolutely huge, I'm absolutely baffled by the decision," said Carrick. "If that's how the rules are interpreted in terms of affecting the game or impacting the action and throwing yourself at the ball six yards from goal - it was an awful decision, I have to say.

"I thought we were doing well, coming out of the second half we were looking like we were building momentum, Kobbie [Mainoo] hits the post. It is just a huge decision. How many layers do we put behind officials, screens, people in offices, and they come up with that, it's really worrying.

"I thought we had some really good spells. The goal has a major impact and the decision has a major impact. We could've create more, it is not easy when they defend the box."

Did you know?

• This was the first time Manchester United generated less than 1.0 xG in a Premier League home game under Michael Carrick (0.95).

• United managed just two shots on target after Phil Foden's 23rd minute red card. They did hit the woodwork twice for the second Manchester derby in a row however - something that they had only done in two of the prior 44 meetings.

• 50 teams have received a red card as the visiting team at Old Trafford in the Premier League, but only two have won: Everton in November 2025 (13th minute, won 1-0) and Manchester City today (23rd minute, won 1-0).

Man Utd starting XI:

Senne Lammens: Not as busy as he might have expected to be. Absolutely vital save from Fernandez to prevent City second. 7

Diogo Dalot: If only he had been able to control Bruno Fernandes' chipped pass into the penalty area he might have marked his 250th Manchester United appearance with a rare goal. Didn't look down the line to see he was clearly offside as United pressed just before half-time. Screwed shot wide after break. 4

Harry Maguire: Decent performance from veteran central defender and not far away from an equaliser with late header. Needless push on Enzo Fernandez in the box, for which he was booked. 6

Lisandro Martinez: Didn't dive in when Bruno Fernandes played a pass towards his own goal straight to Erling Haaland and won the ball from the Norwegian. Decent effort. 7

Patrick Dorgu: Replaced Luke Shaw at left back in the starting 11 and did OK but doesn't have the same link with Rashford. Attempted block proved so crucial to City's opener. 6

Kobbie Mainoo: Another assured display in front of England boss Thomas Tuchel. Came close to giving his side the lead just after half-time and was home side's most effective midfielder. 8

Youri Tielemans (off 66, Sesko): Best performance of the season so far but yet to make the standout contribution expected. 7

Bryan Mbeumo: Probably United's most-effective attacking player. Header just wide before injury-time effort saved. 8

Bruno Fernandes: Fortunate to get away with no sanction at all over the incident that led to Foden's dismissal. Not one of his better efforts 6

Marcus Rashford (off 83, Zirkzee): Curling long-range free-kick against the post with Donnarumma beaten and shot into side-netting but still waiting for first goal since his return. 6

Matheus Cunha: Preferred to Benjamin Sesko in starting line-up and dragged early shot wide. Got involved on plenty of occasions, but again by dropping deep. Off target with a second-half opportunity. 7

Subs:

Benjamin Sesko (on 66, Tielemans): Brought on to make an impact and tried his luck from distance soon afterwards. 6

Joshua Zirkzee (on 83, Rashford) 6

Subs not used: Darlow, Mazraoui, Mount, Yoro, Santos, Heaven, Lacey.

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

For Manchester United this match was a huge opportunity missed, and was strikingly similar to their 1-0 loss to 10-men Everton last November.

After gaining a man advantage, they first hit the post in the 45th minute through Marcus Rashford's dipping free-kick.

They then struck the woodwork again in the 50th minute through Kobbie Mainoo's curling effort from range which bounced off the post and hit the back of City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma but landed safely for the Italian to gather.

United's only other major chance came right at the end when Bruno Fernandes found Bryan Mbeumo in the area and his sharp shot was palmed behind by Donnarumma.

Otherwise United looked laboured going forward against 10 men, especially after City took the lead.

The Red Devils finished last season well but have started this campaign poorly, winning just one Premier League match and conceding in every league game.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Manchester United's performance

What did you make of Manchester City's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are two games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

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I have got this result really badly wrong over the past couple of seasons, when I have tended to go for Manchester City, but I am not sure this time.

City are more methodical under Enzo Maresca, with the way that he builds play from the back - they won't be swashbuckling, put it that way.

I don't think he has changed much about his way of playing from when he was in charge at Chelsea, and Manchester United will be ready for that.

I really like United boss Michael Carrick and the way he does not get too carried away, win or lose.

Everton's late equaliser would have felt like a loss last weekend, but United still haven't clicked in attack yet, and that's part of the problem for them.

Then I look at the goals they are shipping too, and wonder if they are really good enough to keep City out?

I am not so sure they are, but I also think they can hurt City.

City have made a brilliant start, with four wins out of four in all competitions since the Premier League got under way, but if they looked a little vulnerable against Coventry then United are going to cause them more problems.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesko says a patient response to the shin injury he suffered last season has paid off ahead of today's Manchester derby against rivals City.

When Sesko came on as a second half substitute at Hull on 22 August, he was ending a three-and-a-half-month absence from Michael Carrick's side.

The Slovenian forward got injured against Liverpool on 3 May when he was shoved off the Old Trafford pitch by Ibrahima Konate.

At the time, Carrick confirmed it was a shin injury but said his £74m frontman had been dealing with the problem for 'some time'.

It had been anticipated Sesko would recover in time to feature at some point in United's pre-season campaign, but that turned out not to be the case.

"Obviously I got a kick last season, but it was also a little bit overload for myself," said Sesko.

"It was my shin. It just needed a little bit longer than usual.

"Basically, we wanted to make sure it didn't get worse because if you start too early it might appear again. I think it was a great decision to wait a little longer because now it's healed, so it's perfect."

Sesko followed up his first goal of the season at Everton last weekend by adding another to his tally in Thursday's Champions League triumph over Sabah FK.

It has taken his overall return to 12 in his last 19 games.

Given he provides a different threat to United's other forwards, it puts him line for a starting spot in the first meeting with City since Enzo Maresca took charge.

Sesko seemed to have bulked up his physique when he returned to training. Club sources say this was a consequence of his extended rest period, which left him needing to reduce his body fat percentage.

"Obviously, I had quite some time from the injury that I could gain some muscle. I lost so much already because I was overweight with muscles and couldn't really move so much. But now I feel very good and I think I'm in the right place, way better especially than last season, because obviously I changed countries and everything was new.

"But now I'm really enjoying it, I'm happy here, I love life here, my teammates are perfect and I can't really complain about anything."

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Manchester United host Manchester City on Sunday, and former players have been talking to BBC Radio Manchester about the derby.

Ex-United midfielder Paul Ince said: "It's a big test for United. We talk about City bringing in some tough midfield players but they've also got 30-goals goalscorer Erling Haaland, [Phil] Foden looks like he's starting to find his feet and they look exciting again.

"So, that's probably the test for United to see how far they've come. But like any Manchester derby - it doesn't really matter whether you won the game before, you've got to win that game. Form goes out of the window.

"It will show where both teams are at at this stage of the season."

While former City striker Uwe Rosler told BBC Radio Manchester: "I understood straight away the magnitude of those games and what it meant for our supporters.

"The biggest advantage for City is that they played the Champions League game on Tuesday and United played on Thursday. City had more time for recovery, more time to prepare and coming in off the back of a winning streak.

"But in the end it's a team against a team, men against men on the pitch and we all know United have world-class players. It will not be a walkover.

"But I'm pretty sure we will win the match."

Hear more from Ince on BBC Sounds here

Listen to Rosler's derby day memories here

Find full match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds on Sunday

Paul Birch
BBC Sport journalist

The 199th Manchester derby takes place with City travelling to Old Trafford looking for a win which would extend their lead over rivals United to eight points after just four games. BBC Sport takes a look at the key themes going into Sunday's fixture.

For the first time in 28 Manchester derbies, dating back to March 2016, Pep Guardiola will not be prowling the touchline. The former Manchester City boss enjoyed a host of famous victories in this fixture, including seven at Old Trafford alone, but the tide had turned in more recent times, with City winning just one of their past six matches against their bitter rivals.

Guardiola's successor, Enzo Maresca, knows all about what this match means, having served as the Spaniard's assistant during City's Treble winning season in 2022-23.

His side come into Sunday's game in fine fettle, having made it four wins in a row with a professional victory in Porto on Wednesday.

With such a heavy turnover of players during a busy summer of ins and outs at Etihad Stadium, Maresca must have been apprehensive that his new-look midfield in particular may take time to settle, but they have hit the ground running.

The 143 passes Elliot Anderson completed against Coventry City last week was more than the whole Sky Blues side managed, while his overall tally of completing 122 passes under high pressure is more than any other top-flight player this season.

And then against Porto, teen sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi sparkled on his first start for the club, producing a mature and assured performance that led to praise from his manager and team-mates.

"He did a really good game," Erling Haaland said of the most expensive teenager in Premier League history. "The past couple of weeks in training, he has been amazing. I think we have got a gem there, to be honest."

Haaland is in pretty decent form himself, having scored five in his past three games. He also loves facing Manchester United, with his tally of eight goals in seven Premier League appearances against the Red Devils only bettered by Mohamed Salah (13) and Alan Shearer (10).

Carrick looking to continue superb home form

Michael Carrick featured in 23 Manchester derbies as a player and enjoyed a memorable first one as a manager last season as his second spell as the Red Devils' interim boss got off to a dream start with a 2-0 win.

A repeat of that success would see Carrick become only the third United boss to win both of his first two league games against their cross-city rivals, after AH Albut in 1895 and John Bentley in 1913.

It would also be the first time that they have beaten Manchester City in successive league games at Old Trafford since a run of three under Sir Alex Ferguson from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

They have enjoyed a superb run at home since Carrick took over, winning nine of 10 league games and scoring at least twice in all of those victories. However, the past three of those wins have come despite the Red Devils conceding two themselves in each game.

And their habit of letting in two goals per game is becoming a recurring theme. They have conceded twice in all three of their top-flight games so far, and in 10 of their 20 league games under Carrick.

The former England midfielder, though, has enjoyed a superb record against the established 'big six' and Aston Villa, recording seven wins and a draw from his eight in charge, scoring 18 and conceding just eight.