Bruno Fernandes will set an extraordinary stat for Manchester United vs Man City

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.

Here are five things to look out for in today's derby:

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".

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