Manchester United’s starting XI for the derby against Manchester City has reportedly been leaked hours before kickoff, sparking outrage among fans.

An “unconfirmed” Manchester United starting XI for the Manchester derby has reportedly been leaked by a journalist hours before kickoff against Manchester City, leaving fans outraged.

United enter the clash at the Etihad Stadium sitting 13th in the Premier League, having won just one of their first four domestic matches under Ruben Amorim. Meanwhile, City have struggled in recent weeks, winning only one of their last nine matches across all competitions since late October. Despite this, City remain in a stronger position than United, who have faced internal challenges, including minority co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe labeling the club “mediocre” before reportedly dismissing sporting director Dan Ashworth.

A recurring issue at Old Trafford has been the premature leaking of team news, with prominent fan accounts on social media often sharing lineups ahead of official announcements. This time, however, the alleged lineup appeared from an unexpected source: Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst, who shared it on his Facebook page with a disclaimer that it was “unconfirmed.”

Luckhurst commented, “Teams have leaked out of United for years, but the current regularity, brazen manner of it, and apparently public identity of the source make it more of an issue than the days when Mourinho would ask me if I knew the team at press conferences.”

Fans reacted angrily to the leak being posted so far ahead of the match. One asked, “How has a lineup been leaked 17 HOURS before the game? This is no longer funny.” Another called the situation “disgraceful,” while some speculated it might be a tactical move by Amorim, joking it could be an elaborate “Wagatha Christie-style” setup.

Ahead of the game, Amorim confirmed that, apart from the injured Luke Shaw, he has a full squad available for selection.