Photo Credit: May JAMES / AFP – Image of Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca at a press conference at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong on July 31, 2026
Manchester Derby to Test Maresca, Chelsea Look to Halt Unbeaten Hull
Enzo Maresca faces the biggest examination of his young reign as Manchester City boss when City travel to Old Trafford for the Manchester derby on Sunday.

Maresca, who took over from Pep Guardiola this summer, has enjoyed a perfect start on paper with three wins from three in the Premier League and a Champions League victory at Porto. But performances have been unconvincing, including a narrow 1-0 win over Coventry last weekend and a late comeback against Bournemouth on opening day.

City spent a record £460 million in the window, rebuilding their midfield with Enzo Fernandez, Elliott Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi, who could start together for the first time in the derby. One constant has been Erling Haaland, who already has five goals in four games and has moved up to third on City’s all-time scorers list with 167.

United, under Michael Carrick, have made a slow start with just four points from three favourable fixtures against Hull, Ipswich and Everton, and risk falling early in the title race.

Elsewhere, newly-promoted Hull City are the surprise package. Tipped for relegation, they are the only team yet to concede this season and sit unbeaten alongside last season’s top two. Their sternest test comes against Xabi Alonso’s free-scoring Chelsea, who have netted 16 goals in five games. The Blues were inspired by Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, who combined for two goals and four assists in a 6-3 League Cup win over Leeds.

At the other end, Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa is under pressure after three straight defeats, leaving Fulham bottom without a point ahead of a difficult trip to former club Liverpool at Anfield.

Weekend Fixtures:

Saturday: Bournemouth vs Brentford, Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest, Chelsea vs Hull, Liverpool vs Fulham, Crystal Palace vs Ipswich, Tottenham vs Everton (16:30), Sunderland vs Arsenal (19:00)

Sunday: Coventry vs Brighton (13:00), Man United vs Man City (15:30)

Monday: Leeds vs Newcastle (19:00)
Source: Punch Newspapers