Man United stuns Man City in Carrick's first game

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United's latest reboot is off to a flying start.

In Michael Carrick's first game as coach, United pulled off a stunning 2-0 win against Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday to lift some of the gloom hanging over Old Trafford.

"It's a great start," Carrick said.

Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sealed victory in the 198th Manchester derby.

"It was a very special day but I'm not getting carried away," said Carrick, four days after his appointment."It needs to be a regular feeling, that level of performance needs to be consistently what we're getting."

The former United midfielder is contracted only to the end of the season and has 17 games to convince the club hierarchy to give him the job permanently after Ruben Amorim became the sixth permanent manager to be dismissed since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

He could not have made a better first impression as United dominated all-conquering City. Manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged it.

"The better team won," Guardiola said. "When a team is better you have to accept it. They had an energy we didn't have. Congratulations."

League leader Arsenal could not take full advantage of defeat for second-place City, drawing 0-0 at Nottingham Forest.

United is fifth in the standings, one point behind defending champion Liverpool, which extended its winless run to four games after drawing with relegation-fighting Burnley 1-1 at Anfield.

Chelsea is sixth after beating Brentford 2-0.

Carrick lifts the gloom

Watching over Carrick's first game with a beaming smile was Ferguson. Winning had United fans singing in full voice inside Old Trafford.

"The supporters were incredible. This could be a magical place," Carrick said. "To get that feeling is exactly what we want. Hopefully it's just the start."

The result could have been more emphatic as United twice hit the goal frame and had three goals ruled out for offside.

United claiming derby bragging rights boosted its chances of Champions League qualification, and dealt another blow to City's title challenge. City's recent winless run extended to four games. Arsenal's draw left City seven points behind the leader.

Mbeumo fired low into the far corner at the end of a swift United break to open the scoring in the 65th minute. It was the least Carrick's team deserved in a performance full of attacking intent.

Dorgu doubled the lead in the 76th, converting from close range after beating Rico Lewis to substitute Matheus Cunha's cross.

Harry Maguire and Amad Diallo saw chances fly off the woodwork and further celebrations were cut short in the 89th when VAR ruled Mason Mount's goal offside. It mattered little by that stage.

Reds fans not happy

Liverpool is still waiting for its first league win of 2026 after being held at home by second-to-bottom Burnley. The latest dropped points prompted loud jeers from the Anfield crowd.

While Florian Wirtz's impressive recent run continued with his fourth goal in six games, it wasn't enough as Marcus Edwards equalized in the second half.

Coach Arne Slot said he understood the supporters' reaction.

"In my head it wasn't booing but in my head it was frustration as well," he said. "We have to give credit to Burnley for defending, clearing balls off the line, all the things you want to see if you are the Burnley manager, trying everything to prevent us scoring.

"But if you, as Liverpool, are not disappointed by having a draw at home to Burnley then something is completely wrong."

Arsenal denied penalty

Mikel Arteta claimed Arsenal was denied a "clear penalty" in a 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday as the Gunners edged seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Forest survived a VAR review in the closing stages when the ball seemed to brush the arm of defender Ola Aina.

Arsenal remains well on course to end a 22-year wait to win the title, but has failed to take full advantage of Manchester City's poor form in 2026 by dropping four points in its last two league games.

"Obviously disappointed because we want the points," said Arteta.

"We haven't conceded a single shot, we created four big chances, and on top of that, there is a clear penalty that has not been given.

"It is true he (Aina) plays it with his shoulder, but then he brings the arm in to keep the ball inside the pitch, so it is a clear penalty."

A struggle to create openings and take their chances when they come has been a consistent problem for Arteta's men this season, despite their dominant position in the table.

"We could've been better, but as well, this is happening all around the league for every single team," added the Spaniard.

Agencies