MANCHESTER: Enzo Maresca faces his first major test since stepping into Pep Guardiola’s shoes as City visit United in the Manchester derby on Sunday, while Arsenal aim to extend their flawless start at Sunderland.
Alongside last season’s top two, only newly-promoted Hull City remain unbeaten but their brilliant start faces an acid test against Xabi Alonso’s free-scoring Chelsea.
At the other end of the table, Fulham have yet to register a point under Alvaro Arbeloa ahead of their tough trip to Liverpool.
Four games in, Maresca has made the perfect start since accepting the daunting task of succeeding Guardiola as City boss.
But nine points from nine in the Premier League and a winning start to their Champions League campaign in FC Porto has masked some underwhelming performances.
Coventry City missed a series of chances to secure their first goal and point in the top flight for 25 years at the Etihad last weekend as City clung on for a 1-0 victory, while Maresca’s men needed two late goals to beat Bournemouth on the opening weekend of the season.
It was not only an off-season of change in the dugout. City splashed out a record 460 million-pound ($623 million) on new players, including a whole new midfield of Enzo Fernandez, Elliott Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
That trio could start together for the first time at Old Trafford, but one thing that has remained consistent for City is Erling Haaland’s reliability to get goals. The Norwegian has five in four games, becoming City’s all-time third-highest goal-scorer (167) in the process.
United, by contrast, have wasted the chance to make a strong start and are at risk of already being cut adrift in the title race.
Michael Carrick’s men have picked up just four points from an inviting opening trio of matches against Hull, Ipswich Town and Everton.
Meanwhile, Alvaro Arbeloa’s reign as Fulham boss could be short-lived unless he can summon a response on his return to Anfield. The Spaniard is the bookies favourite to be the first Premier League coach sacked after three straight defeats.
Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2026
