In this strange season of Manchester United's where they are marooned in the bottom half of the table, they are unbeaten against the champions across 90 minutes.
United were minutes away from winning the Community Shield and won in the final minutes at the Etihad ten days before Christmas. Alas, there is no Amad to clutch victory from the jaws of defeat.
City have regained form in this season of underachievement but they head to Old Trafford lacking a fear factor for the first time in ten years. United, of course, lost again in midweek.
READ MORE: Viktor Gyokeres makes Manchester United transfer decision and says 'yes' to summer move
Here are five things to look out for in today's derby:
Love in the air?
Valentine's Day was nearly two months ago but Ruben Amorim's "love" for Mason Mount could do with blossoming in the spring. Mount's last start for United was in the Etihad derby on December 15 when he broke down after 12 minutes. He was back in training nearly four weeks ago and has to start sooner or later.
Bought as a midfielder for a 4-2-3-1 formation, Mount is better suited as one of the two '10's in Amorim's 3-4-2-1. As United's worst number seven in the last 15 years, Mount has to lift that curse this year if he is to prolong his Old Trafford career.
As for United's long-time playmaker, when Bruno Fernandes plays today he will have made more appearances for United than Luke Shaw. Shaw made his debut in September 2014. Fernandes made his debut in February 2020. No wonder Amorim said United "need more Brunos".
Maguire vs Marmoush
Harry Maguire was more of a threatening striker than Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund at Nottingham Forest, another galling renunciation of United's recruitment strategy. Maguire should have started in defence and is likely to do so today.
Maguire was excellent against Erling Haaland in December but is set to come up against the promising Omar Marmoush in the City attack. Amorim favours Maguire as the meat in United's defensive sandwich, which would pit him directly against Marmoush.
Who's recalled?
Starting Zirkzee as the striker and dropping Hojlund was such an obviously wrong call by Amorim anyone in the City Ground press box could have filed a piece on it before a ball was kicked. Noussair Mazraoui should also have assumed the squad role he was effectively bought for but started and was startled by Anthony Elanga.
Maguire, Hojlund and Mount would be logical starters.
The hateful eight?
United have lost seven home league games already this season and City have won six of their last nine at Old Trafford. Their two losses during that run marked high points in United's 2019-20 season, the last match at a packed Old Trafford before the Covid-19 pandemic impinged on everyone's freedom, and 2022-23, a comeback victory that took United to within a point of City in the table.
A second successive defeat for United would also mean they have lost as many league games as last season's 14, a record for the club in the Premier League era.
How many will sit in?
United fans are planning a post-match sit-in protest against some of the club's egregious ticketing measures this season. There have been plenty of them: hiking prices mid-season, scrapping concessions, allowing home tickets to fall into the hands of brazen Rangers fans and turfing out time-served season-ticket holders near the dugout.
