Mbeumo Back in Action as Carrick Plots Man City Upset in Manchester Derby Showdown
Michael Carrick has returned to the Manchester United touchline, with his initial responsibility as interim head coach being to face cross-town rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford.
The former United midfielder beat out Ole Gunnar Solkskjær for the temporary position through the season's end—having previously served under the Norwegian during his managerial stint—and faces the challenging job of rebuilding after Ruben Amorim's sudden departure from Manchester.
Following 14 months of rigid three-defender formations, Carrick is anticipated to continue the tactical shift initially started by interim boss Darren Fletcher, moving United to a more offensive 4-2-3-1 formation that will position Bruno Fernandes in a more advanced role.
His squad choices will certainly generate interest as City and Pep Guardiola aim to apply pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Man Utd Predicted Lineup vs. Man City (4-2-3-1)
Man Utd Predicted Lineup vs. Man City (4-2-3-1)
GK: Senne Lammens—The Belgian experienced some nervous moments with possession against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, and certain fans might prefer Carrick to reduce reliance on complex build-up play through Lammens.
RB: Diogo Dalot—Noussair Mazraoui would likely be the ideal choice here, but he remains at the Africa Cup of Nations. Therefore, Dalot is set to feature at right-back.
CB: Harry Maguire—Carrick will want to rely on several veteran players in the derby, and Maguire might be selected to help United control both penalty areas.
CB: Lisandro Martínez—Martínez has shown excellence against Erling Haaland before and was especially outstanding in the 2024 FA Cup final. However, Haaland's current struggles are somewhat concerning.
LB: Luke Shaw—Carrick often instructed one of his fullbacks to push forward during his Middlesbrough tenure, and United's shortage of a genuine left-winger suggests Shaw will likely surge forward when his team possesses the ball.
CM: Casemiro—A valuable set-piece threat and vastly experienced, Carrick would be smart to rely on the Brazilian this Saturday.
CM: Kobbie Mainoo—Mainoo will be among the primary beneficiaries of Ruben Amorim's exit, and he returned to the starting eleven against Brighton last week. If Carrick aims to inspire, deploying Mainoo in his midfield partnership will assist.
AM: Bruno Fernandes—Fernandes will continue as United's key player despite the managerial change. If the home side is to secure victory in the derby, the Portuguese midfielder will likely play a crucial role.
RW: Bryan Mbeumo—Despite his recent AFCON absence, Mbeumo leads United's scoring charts across all competitions this season with seven goals. His return obviously provides a significant boost for the home team.
ST: Benjamin Šeško—While not exactly a scoring spree, Šeško has shown improved goal-scoring form leading up to Saturday's match. He should spearhead the attack.
LW: Matheus Cunha—Cunha might need to operate on the left flank, but he'll have license to move centrally and find more advantageous positions if the fullback provides consistent width.
