London, Jan 16 (NationPress) Michael Carrick will step into his role as interim manager of the storied Manchester United on Saturday, facing off against fierce rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford in what promises to be a challenging encounter. Having previously managed the team for three matches at the tail end of 2021, Carrick is now set to lead for the remainder of the season following a tough week marked by an FA Cup exit at the hands of Brighton.

A victory against Pep Guardiola's squad would serve as a tremendous way to launch Carrick’s 17-match tenure at the helm. Despite the absence of key defenders like Ruben Dias, overcoming Manchester City remains a tall order, according to Xinhua.

Should Manchester United prevail, Arsenal would certainly appreciate the assistance, especially with City trailing them by six points in the Premier League title chase.

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal team will visit Nottingham Forest, where their primary objective will be to penetrate the well-organized defense set up by coach Sean Dyche.

Arsenal recently faced Chelsea in the first leg of a Carabao Cup semifinal, and Arteta must ensure his squad is as refreshed as possible after a demanding start to 2026.

New Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior will make his Premier League debut at home against Brentford, who have surprised many by securing a spot in the top five. One notable aspect of Brentford's attack is Michael Kayode's long throw, which presents a challenge for a Chelsea side that has struggled with set pieces.

On Sunday, third-placed Aston Villa will host Everton, having bounced back well from their defeat at Arsenal with two wins over Nottingham Forest and Tottenham (in the Cup) and a draw against Crystal Palace.

With players like Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rodgers, Villa will look to exploit an Everton team that is having difficulty generating scoring opportunities.

Liverpool's coach Arne Slot needs to replace Conor Bradley, who is out with a long-term injury, as they prepare for a home match against Burnley, a team eager for a league victory since October, although they recently achieved a morale-boosting win over Millwall in the FA Cup.

In another intriguing matchup, Tottenham will take on West Ham, both sides desperate for three points; the visitors are hopeful that new signing Taty Castellanos can replicate his scoring success from the previous weekend's Cup match against Queens Park Rangers.

Sunderland, aiming for their first league win after four draws and a loss in their last five outings, welcomes Crystal Palace, hoping to move on from last weekend's humiliating Cup loss to sixth-tier Macclesfield.

Leeds United will face Fulham at home; Fulham, buoyed by recent performances from Harry Wilson, has climbed into mid-table, a player Leeds attempted to acquire during the summer.

Finally, bottom-placed Wolverhampton, with two draws and a win in their last three matches, will host Newcastle United, who have seen a decline in form when playing away. The round of matches concludes on Monday with a south-coast derby featuring Brighton and Bournemouth.