Man City 0-1 Man United - Premier League: Live score team news and updates as Marcus Rashford scores 30-yard screamer to give the visitors the early lead

Big, big save from Andre Onana.

Man City ripped open United's defence there, Phil Foden is in acres of space as he charges down on goals.

Onana makes an early decision to rush Foden, and it works, he manages to get in the way of his strike.

This game is so open!

Brilliant from Kyle Walker.

Marcus Rashford is clean through, you think a second goal is beckoning, but the United goalscorer takes a poor touch and Walker cleans up.

The City full-back was moving at some pace!

Huge missed chance though, for United.

City seemed a little shocked by that goal, as did their fans.

They seem to be back in some sort of rhythm again now as Phil Foden forces a save from Andre Onana.

The resulting corner comes to nothing.

The goal has come so early though, that City won't be panicking yet. There is lots of time left in this game.

Gary Neville, commentating on Sky Sports:

WOW!

That is an absolute scorcher from Marcus Rashford.

Bruno Fernandes gets in behind before setting up Rashford who is easily 30 yards out - you wouldn't expect what was to happen.

He let's fly and it cannons in off the bar! We were all wondering what Rashford would turn up, well, there is your answer.

I let out a very strange noise when that went in, I was not expecting it.

The first signs of Man United's attacking threat has come.

They hit City on the counter, and Alejandro Garnacho goes bursting through on the righthand side before trying to square it for Marcus Rashford. However, Ederson collects.

I think Garnacho waited too long there, he should have released a lot sooner, there were gaps gap in in behind.

Promising signs though, for United fans.

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, at the Etihad Stadium:

Oooooh...

Man City want a penalty, John Stones falls to the ground amongst a sea of bodies.

It looks like Casemiro gets a touch on the ball and Stones then takes out his own legs.

VAR agrees.

City are on the front foot from the off, as we expected.

They earn two corners within 90 seconds, they are well up for this, as are the fans.

You feel United are just going to sit tight for a while.

I'm assuming Manchester United have won the toss, as they have chosen to switch ends.

Blue Moon has been sung, the players are ready, I am ready, we are all ready!

The ball is rolling...

Just listen to the Etihad Stadium, they are pumped.

What a beautiful day this is for the Manchester Derby, the sun is out in March!

Who will come out on top? We get underway in just a moment.

Erik ten Hag, Manchester United manager, speaking to Sky Sports:

Jack Gaughan, Mail Sport, has spotted both Lisandro Martinez and Rasmus Hojlund on the sidelines during the warm-ups.

Both out through injury, they are giving as much support as they can.

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, at the Etihad Stadium:

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager, speaking to Sky Sports:

Want a good stat? Of course, you do!

Jonny Evans is set to start for Manchester United today, the last time he played Jonny Evans in the derby was over a decade ago - back in December 2012!

I bet if you told Evans this time last year that he would feature in a Manchester Derby again in the future, he would laugh.

Well, here he is!

Manchester United's line-up has raised many questions.

As they are without a recognised striker, we are all guessing which system Erik ten Hag is going to play.

My guess is that Marcus Rashford is going to be starting up top. In the past, that has not always gone to plan.

Will he manage to cause damage to City, if he is indeed leading the line?

Sifting through the comments on this post, I have come to a conclusion.

Everybody thinks that Manchester United are going to get battered.

Have they ever been this much of an underdog in the club's history?

Is it too farfetched to say Manchester United are in with a shot today? I don't think it is.

Yes, it is a very tough ask, but we have seen in the past that when a team are so heavily favourites, it doesn't always work in their favour.

The United players looked deadly serious as they arrived at the Etihad, while Erik ten Hag looked in good spirits.

Does he know something we don't?

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, at the Etihad Stadium:

What a game it is set up to be in Manchester.

My excitement is building by the second, I am itching to see which City and United turn up today.

Every man and his dog is backing City to knock over United with ease, but will it pan out that way?

What are your predictions? Comment on the post below!

Chris Wheeler, Mail Sport, has been taking in the atmosphere of this massive clash as the teams arrived.

Let's hear his thoughts ahead of the big clash!

Bruno Fernandes starts, which means the United captain is set to make his 150th Premier League appearance for the club.

In that time he has scored 47 goals and provided 38 assists, while ending 80 of those matches on the winning side – not a bad record.

However, Fernandes has failed to find the back of the net in his last 14 games in the Premier League – not such a good record.

United are going to need him at his very best today because when he is, there aren’t many better attacking midfielders in the league.

If he isn’t though, it could be a long afternoon for them…

Manchester City have arrived and to some welcome!

The City fans are well up for this, they know how much it means.

As a player when you drive through a crowd like that it must fill you with so much motivation.

The adrenaline is well and truly pumping now.

Oliver Holt, Mail Sport Chief Sports Writer, at the Etihad Stadium:

Well, this is a starting XI that could line up in many different ways.

There is no orthodox striker for Manchester United as Rasmus Hojlund sits out the derby with injury.

Will Bruno Fernandes start in the front three, or will it be Scott McTominay?

Looking at that team it will take a monumental effort for them to get something from this game.

Oh Jack, you were so close to getting it bang on!

So, it is indeed Jeremy Doku who starts at left wing for Manchester City.

Both Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne also start after their stunning performances at Luton in the FA Cup. Josko Gvardiol also returns to the bench after injury.

That is one frightening team.

Here they are, the underdogs.

As I said earlier, I'm not sure I will get used to saying that.

Who will Erik ten Hag select for this massive fixture?

The atmosphere is building in Manchester.

When the whistle blows in just over you already know that the decibel levels are going to be high.

Derby Day atmospheres are always top-notch.

Jack Gaughan, Mail Sport, at the Etihad Stadium:

Last time these two clashed in the Premier League, City were imperious, and United, well, they were dreadful.

It was a day United fans will not want to remember. City ruled supreme at Old Trafford without having to break a sweat. It really showed the gulf in class between the two teams.

Erling Haaland was his devastating self on that occasion, scoring a brace before Phil Foden finished off the Red Devils with 10 minutes left to play.

Has that gap closed in the months that have followed, or will it be de ja vu for United at the Etihad?

Phil Foden, speaking to Sky Sports pre-match:

The Manchester Derby has had its fair share of iconic moments.

Asahi Super Dry has released new research surveying 500 City fans, with one in five claiming they’d rather lose their phone than suffer defeat to rivals Manchester United.

They then also voted for their top 10 best moments from previous derbies, and there are some crackers in there. Very nostalgic.

I know you all want to look at the list, so here you go:

1. Haaland's second goal in 6-3 win - Oct 2022

2. Aguero coming on as a sub and scoring an individual goal at Old Trafford 3-0 win - 2013

3. Mario Balotelli stole the headlines in an emphatic 6-1 City win - 2011

4. Foden's first goal in 6-3 win - Oct 2022

5. Fernandinho with a low shot from 20 yards in League Cup at Old Trafford – 2021

6. Denis Law's outrageous back-heel at Old Trafford helped to relegate the Reds – 1974

7. Ilkay Gundogan volley 1st min FA Cup final – 2023

8. Yaya Toure winner at Wembley FA Cup SF – 2011

9. Kompany header v United 2012 to go top with two games to go

10. Edin Dzeko scores a sixth at Old Trafford and holds five + 1 on his fingers - Oct 2011

There are some interesting ones there, maybe some recency bias coming in? But, there are some great moments in there that City fans are fond of.

I wonder what Manchester United’s list would be.

Marcus Rashford's name has been doing the rounds in the past week.

That is because the Manchester United forward published a passionate piece on the Players’ Tribute platform on Thursday.

In the article, Rashford shared his belief that people have it in for him.

Ian Ladyman, Mail Sport Football Editor, believes that the essay can come across as an excuse.

Read what Ian Ladyman had to say, here:

When it’s derby day nerves certainly get jangling.

I have seen friends and family literally shaking when their team is involved in a derby – the emotions are heightened significantly.

Delight, despair, you can feel it all.

So, calling all fans of both City and United, how are you diddling?

City and United met for the first time in 1881, so you can say that the derby has been running for a while…

United were a dominant force for such a long time, but City have swung the pendulum in their direction over the past decade and more.

In the nine meetings between the sides since the 2020-21 season, it is clear to see who the better side has been.

United did grab a win over the treble-winners last season though, so it is not completely out of the question they could spring a surprise.

A better question would probably be, what didn’t happen yesterday?

It was another chaotic Saturday of Premier League action, I should be getting used to them by now, but there seems to be more and more carnage with every passing week. It’s brilliant.

Liverpool hit the headlines once again as Darwin Nunez netted a 99th-minute winner away at Nottingham Forest to keep them in control of the title race. It was the latest any Liverpool side has scored a winning goal in a league game. Box office.

Tottenham produced a late turnaround to topple Crystal Palace, while we saw both the best and worst of Chelsea as they drew 2-2 away at Brentford.

There was another late winner involving a side from Liverpool, but it did not go the way of Everton, as West Ham left it late to win at Goodison Park. The other two games were not as drama-filled, as both Newcastle and Fulham ran away 3-0 winners against Wolves and Brighton respectively.

Let’s not forget the late kick-off either, Aston Villa survived a second-half fightback from Luton Town as Lucas Digne netted an 89-minute header to steal all three points. Another incredible match.

As you can tell, it was goals galore, most of them late!

Yes, the boxing puns are still going, and the red corner of Manchester United will be looking to land a knockout blow at the Etihad.

United and the word underdog rarely go in the same sentence, but there is no better way to describe them going into this match.

Does that take the pressure off though? Nobody is expecting them to come away with the three points and maybe that will allow them to play with the freedom they need to make an impact.

However, they will have to play a million times better than they did against Fulham last week. The 2-1 home loss to the Londoners was their first defeat of 2024.

United currently sit sixth on 44 points, 11 behind Aston Villa who occupy the final Champions League spot. That’s a big margin to make up, so if they want to give it a crack, winning today will help them hugely.

When you’re reading this post, just imagine it’s being said in the voice of Michael Buffer. It will build up the suspense, trust me.

Fighting out of the blue corner today, we have Manchester City.

As I have already stated, the Citizens are big favourites for this Manchester derby, and even if they’re not top as it stands, the Premier League title.

Pep Guardiola has built a juggernaut of a team that always finds a way to win. They have won five out of the last six league titles, achieved the treble last season, and are still fighting on three fronts this campaign.

However, they are currently embroiled in one of the greatest title races we have seen in a while. They are not just fighting Liverpool for the Premier League, but Arsenal too and they cannot afford to slip up.

Sitting in second place on 59 points, four adrift of leaders Liverpool – whom they play next weekend at Anfield – and one clear of the Gunners in third.

Although they are expected to win big against United today, remember, it’s a derby – they are never simple.

The day has arrived.

Manchester will stand still at 3.30pm to watch its two gigantic clubs face off in a match of epic proportions.

It’s a tale as old as time, a derby that separates families. It’s blue vs red, it’s Manchester City vs Manchester United.

The fact of the matter is that City come into this match as huge favourites, but as we know in football, it’s not played on paper.

United could make a huge impact on the title race, and both Liverpool and Arsenal fans will be cheering them on like they’re their own team. I’m guessing that will feel strange to Reds fans.

Which side of Manchester will be celebrating come 5.30pm?