Premier League 2025/2026: How Manchester United Can Beat Manchester City At The Etihad – Tactical Preview

Manchester City have lost three games in a row for the first time since April 2018.

Their local rivals, Manchester United, will look to make that happen again on Sunday, when the Red Devils travel to the Etihad Stadium for gameweek four of the 2025/2026 Premier League campaign.

Pep Guardiola’s side are coming into Sunday’s game off the back of two straight Premier League defeats; the first coming versus Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur, a game they lost by two at home, and the second coming against Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton & Hove Albion, which finished 2-1 to the Seagulls at the Amex.

Guardiola will have had two weeks to reflect on those two losses by the time they host Ruben Amorim’s side this weekend.

It hasn’t been smooth sailing for Man United start of the 2025/2026 campaign either.

The Red Devils have won just one of their opening three EPL games this term, that win coming in their most recent fixture, where they scraped past newly promoted Burnley in a back-and-forth 3-2 thriller.

This game was entertaining for neutrals but far from comforting for Man United supporters.

Amorim’s side will hope to capitalise on City’s recent form and compound their misery by delivering a statement victory on Sunday.

This tactical analysis piece will be a Manchester Derby tactical preview.

We will focus primarily on Manchester City tactical weaknesses at present and turn our attention specifically to how Ruben Amorim tactics can take advantage of those issues.

City can be vulnerable when their press is dragged high and wide.

Based on the way in which recent opposition have got at City, were going to highlight certain profiles in the Man United setup who can help the Red Devils overcome the challenge of Manchester City.

Manchester City Tactical Weaknesses 2025/2026

Much of what was discussed last season regarding Manchester City’s weaknesses remains true for the Cityzens this term.

After holding City to a 2-2 draw last December, Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner highlighted a lack of intensity, space around the pivot and set-pieces as the main ways in which opponents can get at Man City.

Specifically, Glasner is quoted as saying: “When we get our runners into pace and get the space, its not so easy to defend us. It was part of the idea to come into these spaces, and one thing was long balls and going for long balls.”

Glasner ended up overseeing Crystal Palace’s famous 1-0 victory over Man City in last season’s FA Cup Final, so he seems a logical reference when it comes to tackling Pep Guardiola’s side right now.

Above, we see Chris Richards on the ball for Palace in the build-up phase during the 2024/2025 FA Cup Final.

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