The Manchester derby kicks the Premier League fixtures off early on Saturday morning and Michael Carrick will be the latest coach tasked with turning around the fortunes of the red half of the city.

Carrick has not been handed the easiest of starts with his first two matches coming against Manchester City and Arsenal but he is likely to have Bryan Mbeumo back in his first squad.

Mbeumo has returned to England after Cameroon were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations and there will be plenty of players this weekend playing their first game of 2026 in the Premier League

Saturday

Manchester United v Manchester City (8.30am)

United’s midfielders are the ones to focus on with Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Amad Diallo all capable of scoring points. The demise of Ruben Amorim could also result in Kobbie Mainoo coming in from the wilderness and he is a player to keep an eye on.

Despite racking up ten goals against Exeter in the FA Cup third round last weekend and beating Newcastle in the first leg of the Carabao Cup in midweek, City have been struggling in the league. They have drawn their last three matches and are missing key central defender Ruben Dias through injury

Prediction: 1-2

Chelsea v Brentford (11am)

Liam Rosenior has Chelsea playing with a quicker tempo judged on his first two matches as head coach. He has injury doubts surrounding Cole Palmer, Reece James, Malo Gusto, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens. Alejandro Garnacho, who scored twice against Arsenal in midweek, is in good form and could pick up points if given a start.

Brentford are one of the season’s surprise packages and in forward Igor Thiago, they have one of the few players with a respectable distance in this competition. Midfielder Kevin Schade, defender Nathan Collins and goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher are all punching above their weight.

Prediction: 3-1

Leeds United v Fulham (11am)

Leeds are unbeaten in four home league matches and have played Chelsea, Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Manchester United in that run. Midfielder Brenden Aaronson has scored 35 points in the last five games and is worth considering against one of the league’s weaker teams here.

Fulham are without five first-choice players in Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Kenny Tete, Josh King and Rodrigo Muniz and will be lucky to get anything from this game.

Prediction: 2-0

Liverpool v Burnley (11am)

Liverpool have drawn their last three league matches and have failed to score in two of them. That is unlikely to happen here given their struggling opponents and a returning Hugo Ekitike should be backed to find the net, while Florian Wirtz has scored 26 points in the past four weeks..

It is not worth spending too much time on Burnley players and certainly not in this fixture.

Prediction: 3-0

Sunderland v Crystal Palace (11am)

Crystal Palace’s recent dismal form means that Sunderland’s Robin Roefs, the leading goalkeeper in this game, should continue to pick up points. Defenders Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete can also be included with some confidence.

Palace are nine games without a win in all competitions, including being knocked out of the FA Cup by non-league Macclesfield Town last week. Rumours of coach Oliver Glasner’s summer departure and the absences of Ismaila Sarr, Eddie Nketiah, Dani Munoz and Daichi Kamada.

Prediction: 1-0

Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11am)

Tottenham’s home woes continue and Rodrigo Betancur and Richarlison will miss this game through injury. Micky Van de Ven remains their standout player and West Ham’s lack of potency up front nakes him of interest this week.

Aaron Wan Bissaka has returned to the West Ham squad after being away at the Africa Cup of Nations and defender Konstantinos Mavropanos is struggling with a neck injury.

Prediction: 1-1

Nottingham Forest v Arsenal (1.30pm)

Arsenal look set to again increase the pressure on Sean Dyche, who may have enjoyed a stay of execution with victory over West Ham a couple of weeks ago. Oleksandr Zinchenko is ineligible to play against his parent club.

Gabriel is the gift that keep on giving and has scored 15 points in his past three games. Arsenal have scored 20 goals from set pieces, the most in the Premier League this season, while Forest have conceded the most with 15. Expect a goal or two from corners.

Prediction: 0-2

Sunday

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Newcastle United (10am)

Wolves are on their best run of the season with a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions and in 18-year-old Mateus Mane they have a player that is destined for big things in the game. The forward has scored 22 points in the last couple of games.

Newcastle have problems defensively with Dan Burn, Emil Krafth, Jamal Lascelles, Tino Livramento and Fabian Schar all out of action. But Bruno Guimaraes is turning into one of the game’s must-have midfielders and he has scored 31 points in the past three weeks.

Prediction: 1-1

Aston Villa v Everton (12.30pm)

Aston Villa are still without Amadou Onana but defender Ezri Konsa is worth considering given Everton have scored just four goals in their last seven matches in all competitions.

Everton are without Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye, who will be competing in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations this weekend. They are also still without Michael Keane, who is suspended, and the injured Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Monday

Brighton & Hove Albion v Bournemouth (4pm)

Two teams struggling for league form with Brighton beating only Burnley and Nottingham Forest in their last eight matches.

Bournemouth snapped a streak of 11 leagues games without a win when beating Tottenham last week. They have also recently lost their best player in Antoine Semenyo, who has joined Manchester City.

Prediction: 1-1