It’s difficult for me to pick a winner in this derby with both sides showing inconsistencies in the early stages of the season, but I’m pretty confident that we’ll see goals here with the attacking talent that is on show.

The most recent meeting between these sides back in April ended in a 0-0 draw, but in truth, neither side really bothered to win that game with both Premier League campaigns long stale. The meetings at the Etihad between these rivals tend to be more exciting compared to when they clash at Old Trafford.

The last four head-to-head meetings between the sides in the Premier League at the Etihad have seen over 2.5 goals; they’ve also all seen BTTS. If we look slightly further back, over 2.5 goals have landed in seven of the last 10 of the Premier League meetings between the sides at City’s home stadium.

City have seen over 2.5 goals in two of their three Premier League matches so far this season. Manchester United saw five goals against Burnley last time out. Neither backline can be trusted at the moment to put in a stubborn performance, which should see goals aplenty in the latest edition of the Manchester derby. 

I really like this pick, I’ll probably be backing it as a single myself as well as placing it in this bet builder. City aren’t a side you would regularly associate with high card totals, but that has changed slightly in the early parts of this season as Pep Guardiola’s side have become frustrated.

City have picked up 2+ cards in two of their three Premier League matches so far this season. I’m confident in this small pattern continuing here, fuelled by the added tension that surrounds this game, with it being a Manchester derby so early on in the season.

City committed nine fouls and received two cards in the most recent head-to-head meeting between the sides back in April. They received one yellow card in this fixture last season. It’s also worth noting that Manchester United now have quite a few players who can draw high foul numbers consistently - Dorgu, Diallo, Cunha, and Mbeumo should all aid Manchester United’s foul drawn and card drawn numbers this season. 

Reijnders will get his first taste of the Manchester derby here having moved over from AC Milan during the summer transfer window. He’s been pretty involved for Manchester City so far, with an excellent debut performance, and there are plenty of candidates for him to foul here.

Manchester United’s midfield is the most confusing part of Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, in my opinion. The middle of the park is often far too exposed and open in transition, with not enough bodies supporting the two players protecting the backline. This has slightly improved in the early stages of this campaign, with one of the wingbacks, or the advanced 10s, plugging the gaps left behind when United venture forward.

Reijnders has committed three fouls across his three Premier League appearances so far this season (1.00 per 90) and has also already received his first caution of the campaign. His direct opponent here will be Casemiro, who has had a mini-resurgence for United in the last few months. Casemiro averaged 1.14 fouls won per 90 in the Premier League last season. 

Despite the flurry of attacking additions that Manchester United have made in the summer transfer window, Bruno Fernandes still remains their best and most important player.

He showed this against Burnley last time out, keeping his composure to tuck away a 97th-minute penalty to secure all three points for the Red Devils. He’s been tasked with playing a slightly deeper role for Manchester United this season, which increases his chances of winning fouls.

Fernandes has won seven fouls across his three Premier League appearances so far this season (2.33 per 90), which directly shows how his deeper role is leading to him winning quite a few fouls. 

Fernandes averaged 1.19 fouls won per 90 across his 36 Premier League appearances last season, with that rate set to rise this campaign should Fernandes continue to play in a slightly deeper role. 

There are a few standout 1v1 clashes in this Manchester derby to keep an eye on, and one of them is between Oscar Bobb and Patrick Dorgu. 

Dorgu contested 18 duels and committed one foul in Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on the opening weekend of the season. He was shown a yellow card for that challenge and regularly posts high foul committed and foul won numbers for Manchester United.

He’ll be up against Oscar Bobb, who, in my opinion, has been Manchester City’s best player so far this season. He’s got all the attributes to become one of the best wingers in the Premier League, and Guardiola is fond of him - Bobb has started all three of City’s Premier League games so far this season.

Dorgu received four yellow cards across his 10 starts in the Premier League last season. I expect him to be tested by Oscar Bobb, who has won eight fouls across his three Premier League appearances already this season (2.82 per 90). 

Rodri is usually the most likely City player to pick up a caution, with this role being to make tactical fouls to stop sides breaking on City quickly and to break up play as the holding midfielder.

There aren’t many players better than Rodri in this role, and his absence last season was a key reason why City struggled in the manner they did.

Rodri came out after City’s loss to Brighton just before the international break and claimed that this City side is currently not at the level to compete for major trophies, so it’s possible we see some real frustration from the home side at times here if it isn’t going their way. 

Rodri picked up eight yellow cards and one red card across his 34 appearances for Manchester City during the 23/24 season, and I anticipate similar numbers for him this season, should he be able to stay fit. 

BTTS has landed in each of the last four meetings between these sides at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League. City have come away winners in three of these games but were shocked last season by a late turnaround by Manchester United, thanks to goals from Bruno Fernandes and Amad.

There’s so much attacking quality on the pitch here for both sides that it’s hard to envisage a game where there aren’t goals. Neither backline is particularly convincing at the moment, with the sides keeping just one clean sheet between them up until this point, so goals can be expected on Sunday afternoon.

Manchester United have seen BTTS in each of their last three matches across all competitions.