Michael Carrick has the chance to make an immediate impact in his short-term role as Manchester United manager when the Red Devils take on local rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday.

City, meanwhile, can narrow the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to three points, while United will be desperate for a win to keep their hopes of Champions League qualification alive.

Elsewhere, Tottenham and West Ham clash in a London derby, with both managers under pressure as Thomas Frank and Nuno Espirito Santo fight to save their jobs. AFP Sport examines three key talking points ahead of the weekend fixtures.

Carrick Faces Premier League Baptism

Carrick is thrown straight into the deep end, with the league’s top two sides awaiting him in his first two matches in charge of United.

“It’s what we live for — big games. Some are more challenging than others, but it’s why we are here. So we’ll go for it head-on,” Carrick said.

Before a daunting trip to Arsenal next weekend, the former United and England midfielder has the chance to inject energy into a season that has threatened to spiral.

United were knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton last weekend and have won just one of their last six league games. Despite this, they remain firmly in the race for a Champions League spot, sitting only three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.

Carrick previously went unbeaten in a three-game interim spell following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s departure in 2021. Since then, he has gained further managerial experience at Championship side Middlesbrough, though he was dismissed in June after failing to secure promotion.

“I understand the job, what it entails, and the responsibility of it,” he added. “Now I feel in a strong place to move forward and, hopefully, be successful here.”