Excitement is building ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League clash with local rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The fixture will mark Enzo Maresca’s first Manchester derby as City manager, while Michael Carrick will oversee the contest for the first time as United’s permanent head coach.

Carrick was in interim charge when the sides met at Old Trafford last season, guiding the Red Devils to a surprise 2-0 victory over their neighbours. But that result will count for little when the two sides meet again.

Recent encounters have been fiercely contested, with City winning five and United four of the last 10 meetings, while the other ended in a draw.

There is no overwhelming favourite heading into Sunday’s showdown, although City have made the stronger start to the campaign on paper. Despite some unconvincing performances, Maresca’s side have won all four of their competitive fixtures this season.

United, meanwhile, have been less consistent. They have recorded emphatic victories over Ipswich Town and Sabah FK but suffered defeat against Hull City and were held by Everton. Sunday’s derby represents their toughest test yet.

Beyond the managers and broader tactical picture, the individual contests across the pitch could ultimately determine the outcome. These are three battles that could prove decisive.

1. Elliot Anderson vs Bruno Fernandes

The midfield duel between Manchester United captain and chief creator Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City’s passing maestro Elliot Anderson could have a major influence on the derby.

For Anderson, the priority will be to disrupt Fernandes’ creativity and goal threat. The United captain already has five goal contributions this season, making the assignment easier said than done.

Anderson’s tenacity and tactical intelligence, however, could prove crucial. He is likely to be tasked with preventing Fernandes from receiving the ball cleanly between the lines and limiting his ability to turn and release runners behind the City defence.

Fernandes, meanwhile, will have an equally important responsibility: denying Anderson the time and space to dictate the game from deep.

Against Coventry, Anderson completed 146 passes — the most by an English player in a Premier League match since Opta began tracking the data in 2003-04.

If Fernandes fails to press effectively and allows Anderson to dictate from midfield, the City player could control the tempo, prevent United from establishing a foothold and pick out the passes capable of unlocking the Red Devils’ defence.

2. Erling Haaland vs Harry Maguire

Harry Maguire could face the unenviable task of keeping Erling Haaland quiet, with Lisandro Martínez lacking the physical profile to go toe-to-toe with the towering Norwegian.

Few defenders have consistently contained Haaland, but Maguire has shown that it can be done.

In five previous Premier League meetings between the pair, the contest has gone one of two ways. Haaland has twice exploited Maguire’s weaknesses, particularly his vulnerability under pressure and lack of recovery pace, scoring twice in each game.

The other three encounters have produced a very different story.

Maguire has largely nullified Haaland by refusing to give him the space and physical advantage he normally thrives on. Rather than allowing the striker to dictate the battle, the United defender has embraced the physical contest, using his strength, aggression and no-nonsense approach — and, at times, a touch of the dark arts — to beat Haaland at his own game.

Haaland has already scored five goals this season and enters the derby in imperious form.

Maguire, meanwhile, has quietly put together an impressive run, stepping up in the absence of Matthijs de Ligt.

Something will have to give on Sunday.

3. Bryan Mbeumo vs Joško Gvardiol

If Haaland represents the danger United must contain at one end, Bryan Mbeumo could be City’s biggest problem at the other.

Joško Gvardiol is likely to be the defender tasked with keeping the Manchester United forward quiet.

Mbeumo has quickly established himself as a key part of United’s attack, scoring twice in his opening three Premier League appearances.

Although he operates primarily from the right, the Cameroon international rarely stays fixed to the touchline. Instead, he regularly drifts inside to attack the spaces between the lines.

That movement is likely to bring him into Gvardiol’s territory, with the Croatian expected to operate as the left-sided centre-back.

On paper, Gvardiol has the physical advantage over the diminutive Mbeumo. But that does not make the matchup straightforward.

Mbeumo is deceptively strong, while his quick feet and unpredictable movement make him difficult to contain.

If United can give him space to run directly at City’s defence — particularly if Gvardiol allows him to turn and accelerate — Mbeumo could become a nightmare for the champions.

Gvardiol’s task will be to close the space quickly and ensure United’s attacking weapon never gets the opportunity to build up a head of steam.