They haven’t had much to cheer about for a decade or so, but fans at the Theatre of Dreams rolled back the clock on Saturday as Manchester United, managed by old boy Michael Carrick, beat Manchester City 2-0.
It was a Manchester Derby of days gone by as the Red Devils played the counter-attacking, swashbuckling football of yesteryear, the opener, on 65 minutes a classic example. The Sky Blues were on the attack and probing, but when Rayan Cherki’s ball into the United penalty was intercepted the hosts launched a rapid attack in a red wave, which ended when Bruno Fernandes slipped in Bryan Mbeumo who swept home his seventh goal of the campaign.
Pep Guardiola’s Premier League title chasers bossed the possession with 68 per cent of the ball but they lacked their hosts’ cutting edge and the visitors’ defending was strangely generous. In fact the Red Devils had three goals chalked off for offside by the final whistle, and when Matheus Cunha crossed into the danger area, Patrick Dorgu had more hunger than the City centre halves to hammer the ball into the net and lift the roof off the Old Trafford.
At the final whistle the home crowd celebrated wildly again and, while this may be a brief moment of joy brought by new man Carrick, it was some moment, to beat their nearest neighbours whose shadow they have lived in since 2013. As my SBOTOP mate James will say, the Theatre of Dreams has not felt right for some time, but my word it does right now, and bosses at United will hope that Carrick can continue to deliver.
They will be under no illusion that the former disciple of Sir Alex Ferguson might be the second coming, after all Carrick was sacked by Championship side Middlesbrough last summer after missing out on the play-offs. But, for now, back at his spiritual home as appointed manager, he can do no wrong and his task is to guide Manchester United to a European place this season. The latest Premier League 2026 betting odds rate United as fifth favourites, battling for the fourth place with Liverpool and Chelsea and it would be some achievement if Carrick can beat those two juggernauts and bring Champions League football back to Salford.
While United cemented their league table place in fifth, between Liverpool and Chelsea, this was a particularly bad day at the office for Manchester City who have stuttered in the New Year after racing up onto the shoulders of Arsenal by Christmas. This loss gave the Gunners a chance to stretch their lead to nine points, but Mikel Arteta’s men could only take a point in a goalless draw against Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest.
Frank discussions in Tottenham
Down in North London things seem to be going from bad to worse for Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank who watched his team lose 2-1 to relegation threatened West Ham United, to make it back to back league losses and only two points from the last four games. Spurs, now down in 14th place, were booed off at half time as they trailed to a Crysencio Summerville strike. And, even though the hosts levelled thanks to a Cristian Romero header, they failed to test the West Ham defence and were punished when Callum Wilson netted a 93rd minute winner, to give the Hammers a first league win since November.
The home fans booed again at the final whistle; the fact they lost to London rivals made it worse but Frank’s position at Tottenham is looking increasingly precarious and a trip next week to Burnley will come with huge pressure. The Danish boss did a superb job at Brentford but Spurs Spurs are a totally different proposition and supporters and pundits are already talking about the next group of candidates should Frank fall on his sword.
While Spurs languish in the bottom half of the league table, London’s other big gun, Chelsea, got off to a winning start at Stamford Bridge under new manager Liam Rosenior. Brazilian striker Joao Pedro and the master creator Cole Palmer were on target as the Blues leapfrogged high flying Brentford into sixth place.
And in otherPremier League 2026 news there was more frustration for Liverpool manager Arne Slot who watched his Liverpool side draw 1-1 at home to struggling Burnley. The Reds had a golden chance to go ahead when they were awarded a rather soft penalty but Dominik Szoboszlai crashed his spot kick against the crossbar. Shortly after
Florian Wirtz lashed home Liverpool’s goal but, despite bossing possession and the shot count, the hosts failed to stretch Clarets keeper Martin Dubravka and, when Burnley had a purple patch midway through the second half, the lively Marcus Edwards gave Alisson no chance.
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