Premier League Buildup to Manchester Derby, Old Firm, and WSL

The buildup to the Manchester derby, the Old Firm showdown, and the Women’s Super League (WSL) took place on Sunday, 13 September 2026. The articles provided insights and discussions surrounding the anticipated matches.

Emillia Hawkins reported at 11:00 CEST, giving a look at the day's key events. Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United, Bobby Thomas of Coventry, and Erling Haaland of Manchester City were highlighted in context to the matches ahead. Fans were encouraged to engage with a daily Premier League trivia game called "On the Ball," offered through the Guardian's app.

As the Manchester derby approached, Jamie Jackson provided a preview and raised questions on who might be the favorite for the match. While most expected Manchester City to have the upper hand, Jackson noted Manchester United's surprising victory in their last meeting, setting an unpredictable tone for the derby.

The previous five encounters between the teams revealed a mixture of results: 2-0 in favor of United, 3-0 for City, a 0-0 draw, 2-1 for United, and a 1-1 draw (with City winning 7-6 on penalties in the Community Shield). This record illustrated a fierce rivalry and unpredictability heading into the derby.

Also discussed was the Premier League table following recent fixtures. Arsenal led, followed by Manchester City, Hull, Chelsea, and Brentford among the top positions. Notably, Tottenham remained at the bottom end after a tough start to the season, with fans questioning their scoring capabilities.

In other analyses, Mauricio Pochettino articulated a controversial view about giving Chelsea’s 2016-17 Premier League title to Spurs, citing frustrations with perceived rule violations that benefited Chelsea.

Dave Estherby expressed doubts regarding Tottenham's performance, criticizing the club's lack of goalscoring prowess and quoting Pochettino's historical re-evaluation as questionable. Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta expressed frustration over officiating in Arsenal's recent win against Sunderland, emphasizing perceived misjudgments by the referee that nearly turned the match in favor of Sunderland.

Roberto De Zerbi discussed fitness concerns for Tottenham's squad, emphasizing the need for psychological breakthroughs and better physical conditions after failing to score in multiple matches. As anticipation mounted for the weekend's fixtures, fans and pundits alike remained eager to see how the contests would unfold.