No Lukaku or Pogba! Just two United players in combined Manchester XI

Ederson has been a key signing for Manchester City, the composed and talented sweeper-keeper that Pep Guardiola requires for his style of possession football. However, while De Gea is not quite as good with his feet, there is arguably no shot-stopper in world footballer with better hands.

Despite playing behind an inferior defence and having to deal with far more shots on his goal, Spain's No.1 has kept two more clean sheets (16) than Ederson, made fewer mistakes leading to goals (zero to two), while his save percentage is also superior (80.99% to 70%).

Antonio Valencia has been a decent performer for Manchester United but Kyle Walker has been so good that pundits are no longer questioning City's decision to pay an initial £45 million for a full-back. The former Tottenham ace has been a key man for Guardiola's side, providing width and penetration out wide, without ever neglecting his defensive duties.

Indeed, while he may have had a nightmare in European competition at Anfield on Wednesday night, no defender has provided more Premier League assists (6) than Walker, who also boasts a very impressive pass success rate of 87.81%.

There have still been occasional errors and he was poor against Liverpool in the Champions League but, for the most part, Nicolas Otamendi has been a player transformed this season, a rock at the back for City, as illustrated by his impressively high tackle success rate (73.58%) in the English top flight. The Argentine centre-half has also posed a threat at the other end of the pitch, netting four goals (Chelsea wing-back Marcos Alonso is the only defender to have racked up more), including the opener in City's win in the corresponding fixture at Old Trafford.

However, it is his efficient and effective use of the ball which has most impressed Guardiola, with Otamendi boasting an incredible 91.92% pass success rate.

In light of Eric Bailly's injury issues, and the erratic form of the likes of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, the fit-again Vincent Kompany gets the nod alongside Otamendi somewhat by default.

In fairness, the Belgian has looked somewhat like his old commanding self in recent weeks, defending with his customary commitment and composure, while at the same time distributing the ball to great effect (his pass success rate in the Premier League is a whopping 92.23%).

While Fabian Delph was one of City's surprise success stories in the first half of the season, the makeshift left-back is no longer first choice at the Etihad. As a result, we've gone with Ashley Young, who has continually made Luke Shaw look bad by both defending diligently and attacking with real menace.

The 32-year-old is also the only full-back to have completely nullified the threat posed by Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah so far this season!

Arguably the outstanding player in this season's Premier League, Kevin De Bruyne is developing into the complete midfielder, one as adept at playing in the middle of the park as he is behind the forward or out wide.

There are few better passers of the ball in world football than the brilliant Belgian, who has a league-high 15 assists to his name, while the 26-year-old has also seven goals this term - including the winner in a pivotal victory over defending champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

A brief dip in form aside, Nemanja Matic has proven an excellent acquisition for United, one of Jose Mourinho's few reliable performers. However, the Serb misses out on a midfield berth to the staggeringly consistent Fernandinho, the man whose recovery and retention of the ball allows City's attacking talents to go and tear teams apart.

As well as his impressive defensive discipline, the Brazilian also offers far more from an attacking perspective than Matic (one goal, one assist), having been involved in six Premier League goals this term (three goals, three assists).

Paul Pogba performed reasonably well in certain matches during the first half of the season but the Frenchman doesn't even come close to earning selection in his preferred position left-hand side of midfield ahead of the sublime David Silva. The Spaniard is one of the leading contenders for the Premier League's Player of the Year award, having demonstrated his subtle genius on a remarkably consistent basis this term.

At 32, the long-underrated Silva is arguably playing as well as he has ever done, contributing eight goals - including the winner at Old Trafford in December - and 11 assists to the City cause.

He may have started on the bench at Anfield on Wednesday but there is no other possible choice for the right wing than Raheem Sterling, who has been one of the stars of City's season.

Arguably the greatest example of the Guardiola effect, the once maddeningly inconsistent Liverpool starlet has been transformed into a surprisingly consistent, composed and clinical attacking talent, as underlined by the fact that he has racked up 16 goals and seven assists already this season. By way of comparison, Anthony Martial is United's most productive winger (nine goals, five assists).

Romelu Lukaku has been in fine form of late but his strike-rate this season (15 goals in 30 games) pales in comparison to that of Sergio Aguero, who is expected to be fit to start on Saturday. The lethal Argentine attacker has struck 21 times in just 24 outings in this season's Premier League and his importance was underlined in City's 3-0 loss at Anfield.

Indeed, it is worth pointing out that while Lukaku's all-round game has undoubtedly improved in recent months, the big Belgian actually only has one more league assist (7) than his Argentine arrival, despite having played more matches.

With both Martial and Marcus Rashford in and out of the United side all season long, and Alexis Sanchez having arguably only played one good game since his arrival from Arsenal in January, the obvious pick for the left wing is the marvellous Leroy Sane.

The Germany international has been involved in 20 goals this term, racking up 11 assists (only De Bruyne has more across the entire Premier League) while netting nine times himself.