Erling Haaland scored the only goal in the 60th minute as Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Premier League derby on 13 September, completing the win with 10 men for most of the match.
Phil Foden was sent off in the 23rd minute after kicking Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. City held their shape and Haaland converted to take all three points at Old Trafford.
After the final whistle, Fernandes ran over to embrace Enzo Fernandez. The two had history: Enzo had elbowed Fernandes in the head during the Argentina versus England World Cup match.
United’s numbers told a familiar story
Manchester United finished the game with 16 shots to City’s six, and the corners ended 6-7 in City’s favour. The numerical advantage did not translate into a goal.
Rashford and Manu both hit the post for United. Mbembo forced a fine save from Donnarumma in stoppage time, but United could not find an equaliser.
Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, noted that Haaland’s winning goal should arguably not have stood, because Enzo Fernandez appeared to have intent to play the ball from an offside position.
Carragher criticises Carrick’s substitution
On Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Jamie Carragher said Michael Carrick made an error by substituting Tielemans in the 67th minute without bringing Sesko on earlier.
Carragher said that removing a midfielder forced Bruno Fernandes to drop into the central midfield role. He said Carrick had made a similar adjustment in a different situation when Amorim was still manager.
Carragher said the issue was not which player came off for Sesko, but what then happened to Bruno Fernandes. By the 88th minute, he said, the Premier League’s best player was tracking Haaland near the halfway line.
He added that Carrick would not have wanted that outcome, but the decision to pull Bruno Fernandes deeper produced that chain of consequences. Carragher also questioned why Sesko had not come on alongside Cunha at half-time.
Referee suspensions and Foden’s ban
According to journalist Mike Keegan, Professional Game Match Officials Board chief Howard Webb decided to suspend VAR officials Matt Donoho and Blake Antrobus for one weekend following the derby.
Foden will serve a three-match ban for violent conduct, with the suspension covering domestic cup competitions. He is due to return on 17 October against Ipswich.
Manchester City are joint top of the Premier League table alongside Arsenal after four rounds of the 2026-27 season.
