September 2026 Manchester derby set to be rescheduled

Manchester United are preparing for a huge few days, with their next Premier League fixture coming against Manchester City at Old Trafford.

Before then, Michael Carrick’s side must turn their attention towards Thursday’s Champions League clash with Sabah FK.

However, the Manchester derby is already looming large on the calendar.

United have had a mixed start to the Premier League season.

An embarrassing 2-0 defeat away to newly-promoted Hull City was followed by a much stronger response at Old Trafford, where United beat Ipswich Town 5-2.

They then had to settle for a dramatic 2-2 draw against Everton, leaving Carrick’s side still searching for complete consistency in the opening weeks of the campaign.

City, meanwhile, have started perfectly.

They head into the derby period with a 100 per cent record, adding even more intrigue to what is already one of the biggest fixtures in English football.

The senior Manchester derby is currently scheduled for Sunday, with Old Trafford set to host another fiercely contested meeting between the two rivals.

Manchester United vs Manchester City set to be rescheduled

However, it is actually a different Manchester derby which now appears set to be moved.

According to RedYouthUnited on X, Manchester United Under-21s’ derby against City, which had been scheduled for this Saturday, is expected to be rescheduled.

The change would leave United’s Under-21s with just one fixture across the following five-and-a-half weeks, highlighting just how sparse their schedule has become.

That situation has been made even more noticeable by United opting out of both the EFL Trophy and National League Cup this season.

It also helps explain why the club have been willing to sanction short-term loans for some academy players.

Finley McAllister, for example, recently joined Radcliffe FC on an initial one-month loan, giving him the chance to experience regular senior football rather than spend several weeks with very limited competitive action.

For United’s development staff, the rescheduled derby only adds another challenge when it comes to keeping young players match-sharp during a stop-start period.