THIS weekend the Premier League gears up for one of the biggest clashes of the season: the Manchester derby.
At one time matches between Manchester United and Manchester City would decide title races, and many of those games had the ferocity to match the occasion.
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While the games now are usually not as high-stakes, the derby always promises plenty of fireworks.
SunSport has looked into seven of the WILDEST moments from the Manchester derby ahead of the next entry in the history books this Sunday.
Keane v Haaland
Arguably THE MAD MOMENT of Manchester derbies. Roy Keane hit Alf-Inge Haaland – dad of Erling – with a knee-high tackle five minutes from the end of the derby in 2001.
Keane later admitted it to be a premeditated revenge tackle for an exchange they had had four years prior. Haaland, then playing for Leeds, had stood over the Irishman and berated him for embellishing an injury – which actually turned out to be an ACL injury for Keane.
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Hot-headed Keane was initially fined £5,000 and hit with a three-game ban by the FA before admitting in his book a year later that it was premeditated, landing him a £150,000 fine and a a further five-match ban.
Many are quick to say the tackle ended Haaland’s career, but he actually completed the rest of the game and played 68 minutes of the one after – with a long-term injury to his left knee actually curtailing his playing days, rather than Keane’s tackle on his right.
Neville kisses Scholes
One of the most bizarre moments saw Gary Neville kiss Paul Scholes on the mouth after the midfielder scored a winner in 2010 at the Etihad.
In September 2025, Scholes recalled the “weird” kiss and joked: “Tickling me with his little tache he was. I didn’t expect it to be honest.”
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Saturday 12 September
Bournemouth
15:00
EPL
Brentford
Villa
15:00
EPL
Forest
Chelsea
15:00
EPL
Hull
Palace
15:00
EPL
Ipswich
Liverpool
15:00
EPL
Fulham
Spurs
17:30
EPL
Everton
Sunderland
20:00
EPL
Arsenal
Sunday 6 September
Arsenal
2 – 1
EPL
Chelsea
Everton
2 – 2
EPL
Man Utd
Saturday 5 September
Hull
0 – 0
EPL
Villa
Forest
0 – 0
EPL
Spurs
Man City
1 – 0
EPL
Coventry
Fulham
2 – 3
EPL
Palace
English Premier League
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Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
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3
9
5
3
0
0
2
3
9
5
3
0
0
3
3
7
3
2
1
0
4
3
6
1
2
0
1
5
3
5
3
1
2
0
6
3
5
2
1
2
0
7
3
5
2
1
2
0
8
3
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2
1
2
0
Ferdinand coin strike and Hart tackles his own fan
Tempers flared in December 2012 as the Red Devils snatched a late winner away from home thanks to Robin van Persie – that would ultimately propel Sir Alex Ferguson to his final title before retirement.
But during the celebrations, Rio Ferdinand was struck by a coin thrown from the City end and left bleeding down his face.
A City supporter who had drunk eight pints then ran on to the pitch to confront the defender but was tackled by City goalkeeper Joe Hart.
The fan, Matthew Stott, was subsequently charged with pitch encroachment and given a three-year ban, but apologised for the confrontation and narrowly avoided prison.
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Milkgate
Following a 2-1 win for City at Old Trafford, Jose Mourinho charged into the away dressing room to demand some respect after what he deemed to be excessive celebrations after City went 11 points clear at the top of the table.
City players and staff had gone to celebrate in front of their fans, though Pep Guardiola refused to join them.
Mourinho exchanged words with goalkeeper Ederson in Portuguese before he had water and milk thrown at him.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta – then an assistant to Guardiola at City – was left with a cut above his eye after being hit by a bottle thrown at him, though it is not known who threw it.
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Neville middle finger
Neville gave the middle finger to former team-mate Carlos Tevez after he crossed the divide between the clubs.
Neville was seen making the gesture on the touchline during a League Cup clash in January 2010, prompting an FA investigation.
Tevez was found to have called Neville a “boot licker” and a “moron” for comments he had made before the game saying Ferguson had been right to not sign Tevez permanently.
Both avoided any punishment, though Tevez scored twice in the 2-1 win for City that night.
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Bellamy shoves fan in face
One of the most dramatic ends to a Manchester derby was Michael Owen‘s winner in 4-3 thriller at Old Trafford in 2009.
However, an incident between Craig Bellamy and a fan is often forgotten about.
Jake Clarke did a solo pitch invasion which saw him tackled by stewards, and while he was restrained, he was shoved in the face by City ace Bellamy.
Clarke received a three-year ban and was fined £305, while Bellamy was warned by the FA about his reaction.
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Fellaini loses his head
In an otherwise forgettable goalless draw between Man Utd and Man City in April 2017, Marouane Fellaini was sent off in the 84th minute for headbutting Sergio Aguero.
The Belgian had started the game and kept his cool for 83 minutes before he was given a yellow card for a tackle on Aguero, before being sent off for headbutting the Argentine with just over five minutes left.
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