Can You Watch Man United vs Man City Live for Free in the UK? Four Legal Ways

Can You Watch Man United vs Man City Live for Free in the UK

The Manchester derby between Manchester United and Manchester City is the headline act of Premier League Matchday 22. With kick-off set for Saturday at 12:30pm GMT, many fans in England ask the same question every season:

Can I watch it live for free, legally, in the UK?

Here is the straight, no-nonsense answer, followed by every legal way you can follow the match.

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Short answer: No – not live on free TV

In the UK, there is no legal way to watch the Manchester derby live on free-to-air television or free streaming platforms.

The match is a Sky Sports exclusive live broadcast, which means:

• Not available on BBC, ITV, Channel 4 or Channel 5

• Not available on BBC iPlayer, ITVX or other free streaming apps

• Any website claiming to show it “free” is illegal and unsafe

This is not a special case. It is how Premier League broadcast rights work in England.

Why isn’t it free?

The Premier League sells live UK rights mainly to Sky Sports and TNT Sports.
Big matches like the Manchester derby are premium broadcast picks, designed to anchor subscription schedules.

Even though the game avoids the traditional 3:00pm blackout, it is still behind a paywall.

All the legal ways to watch or follow the match in the UK

1. Watch live on Sky Sports (paid, official)

• Channel: Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Premier League

• Streaming: Sky Go (Sky customers) or NOW

• Cost: Subscription required

This is the only legal live TV/streaming option inside the UK.

2. Watch legally in pubs and sports bars (free to you)

If you don’t want to pay personally, this is the closest thing to “free”.

Many UK pubs legally show Sky Sports using commercial licenses.
You can watch the full match live by:

• Ordering a drink

• Watching on licensed Sky Sports screens

For many fans, this is the best-value option: atmosphere, big screen, zero subscription.

3. Listen live for free on the radio (100% legal)

If video is not essential, this is your best free option.

• BBC Radio 5 Live

• BBC Sounds app or website

You get:

• Live commentary

• Expert analysis

• No cost, no registration tricks

Many fans use radio commentary alongside live score apps.

4. Watch extended highlights for free (same day)

You cannot watch the match live for free, but you can watch highlights legally:

• Match of the Day

• BBC iPlayer (Saturday night)

Highlights usually include:

• All goals

• Key incidents

• Expert analysis

The bottom line

• No free live TV or streaming of Man United vs Man City in the UK

• Live on Sky Sports only

• Free legal alternatives:

  • Watch in a pub

  • Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

  • Watch highlights on Match of the Day

For a fixture of this size, the UK broadcast rules are strict and consistent.