Manchester United have won each of their last matches in all competitions, including four in the Premier League after strolling past Bournemouth with a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford on January 3 in a result that saw them draw level with third-placed Newcastle on 35 points, albeit having played a game fewer.
Perhaps what many didn't pick up on is that United also moved to within just four points of Manchester City, who are sitting second as the main challengers to early pace-setters Arsenal.
As such, if United beat their arch-rivals at Old Trafford on Saturday, they will also deserve to be considered as title contenders, which is a testament to just how much has changed since Erik ten Hag's shaky start to life in English football.
The Dutchman has transformed United into a solid, hard-working outfit, with every player contributing to a high-press out of possession and a direct, fluid approach being adopted in attack, making them a joy to watch.
City beat their neighbours 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium on October 2 as Erling Haaland ran riot, and Pep Guardiola still boasts a superior squad in terms of overall depth in each position.
United have been closing that gap in quality since then, however, and fans across Manchester are now bracing themselves for the most high-stakes derby contest for the best part of a decade.
The question is, how many United players would now get into a combined XI alongside City's megastars, based on current form? GOAL takes a look...
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