Manchester United vs. Manchester City Prediction: Red Devils Can Get Something

• Manchester United are under new leadership following Ruben Amorim’s exit

• Manchester City have ground to make up in the Premier League title race

• Manchester United can deny Manchester City a victory on Saturday

Manchester United vs. Manchester City Odds

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My +104 Pick for Manchester United vs. Manchester City 

Choose a Manchester United win or a draw. Manchester City have been the better team for more than a decade, but United still have a knack for frustrating their crosstown rivals.

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Manchester United Once Again Find Themselves in Limbo 

It is Groundhog Day at Manchester United once again. Ruben Amorim’s departure earlier this month means the Red Devils are looking for a seventh permanent manager of the post-Alex Ferguson era. Michael Carrick has been handed the reins on a caretaker basis until the end of the campaign, when United intend to appoint a full-time successor to Amorim, who only lasted for 14 months in the Old Trafford dugout.

In the end, his exit happened rather quickly. After a 1-1 draw with Leeds United on the first weekend of 2026, Amorim was publicly critical of his superiors. It also emerged that the dissatisfied Portuguese had had a row with sporting director Jason Wilcox, who must take as much blame for Amorim’s disappointing tenure as the head coach itself.

Amorim did not exactly help himself with his tactical inflexibility, but the people that hired him knew that he was a 3-4-3 man. If the United hierarchy ultimately concluded that Amorim’s way of playing was not in keeping with the traditions of the club, why did they hire him in the first place?

Thirteen years on from their last Premier League title in Ferguson’s final season at the helm and United feel further away than ever from their 21st championship crown. They have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on players over the past decade or so, yet they have continually come up short.

The worry for United is that they have tried a variety of different coaches in that time. David Moyes was the Scot in Ferguson’s image. Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal brought vast experience at the highest level. Erik ten Hag and Amorim were ambitious, up-and-coming managers who had done well in Europe. Yet each left Manchester under a cloud of disappointment. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

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Manchester City Now Clear Outsiders in the Title Race

Manchester City were applying pressure to Arsenal at the top of the Premier League over the festive period, but the end of that busy part of the season did not go well for Pep Guardiola’s side. Three consecutive draws with Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion allowed Arsenal to increase their lead at the summit of the standings, with City now trailing the noth Londoners by six points.

That is by no means an insurmountable deficit. Arsenal still have to go to the Etihad Stadium, giving City the chance to peg their title rivals back in a direct head-to-head clash. Arsenal will not win every other game before the end of the season, so City (and, by extension, Aston Villa) are still in the hunt. However, Guardiola’s side are now clearly outsiders.

Perhaps that suits them. The pressure is on Arsenal, who have finished as runners-up in three campaigns on the bounce. Mikel Arteta’s men may get nervous when the finish line comes into view. City, on the other hand, know what it takes to win titles. That is a valuable asset come the business end of the season.

At the same time, there is no doubt that City have not been on Arsenal’s level so far this season. They are not able to control games like they used to, with Rodri still yet to prove he is fit enough to play week in, week out. Defensive injuries have made City vulnerable at the back. Up front, they still rely heavily on Erling Haaland for goals.

This City side is not as complete as some of its predecessors. That does not mean they cannot win the title, but Guardiola’s men have plenty of work to do if they want to overtake Arsenal in top spot.

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Manchester United Can Avoid Defeat by Their Local Rivals

Manchester City have not been firing on all cylinders of late, so this is arguably not a bad time for Manchester United to be facing their crosstown rivals. 

While City have undoubtedly been the more successful side over the last 10 years, United have continued to get results against their neighbors.

The Red Devils can still achieve something this season. Champions League qualification is a realistic objective; United are currently just three points behind Liverpool in fourth place. They are not the only team in the division that have struggled for consistency up to now.

We can expect a lively atmosphere at Old Trafford, where United supporters will be fully behind their team. And with City once again missing some key defenders, the hosts will cause Guardiola’s charges a few problems.

City will probably have more of the ball, but that is not a problem provided United are patient and smart. With the home crowd behind them, the Red Devils can get something from this one. Go for a United win or a draw in the double chance market in this weekend’s Manchester derby.

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How to Watch Manchester United vs. Manchester City

• Teams: Manchester United vs Manchester City

• Location: Old Trafford, Manchester, England

• Date and Time: Saturday, January 17 at 7:30 AM ET

• How to Watch: USA Network