Manchester United welcomed Manchester City to Old Trafford looking to do the double over their local rivals.
Andre Onana started between the posts for the home side with Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu at left wing back and Diogo Dalot at right wing back.
Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire and Noussair Mazraoui started as the three centre backs as Matthijs de Ligt missed out due to injury.
Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro surprisingly started in the midfield pivot while Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho played as the number tens. Rasmus Hojlund started up front as Joshua Zirkzee dropped to the bench.
Here are three things we learnt from the match.
Dorgu wasteful in attack
The 20 year old Dane has started his Old Trafford career quite well and was electric against Real Sociedad in the last round of the Europa League.
He certainly adds considerable energy and physicality down the left and it must be considered that at 20, he still has much to learn.
Nonetheless, he was very wasteful in attack versus City.
Dorgu found himself in good positions twice to put United in the lead in the first half but he recklessly fired over and failed to even make contact with another effort.
It is always difficult to come into a team in January and he has shown composure in front of goal before in Italy, scoring five goals for Lecce in Italy. Hopefully he can soon show such calmness for his new club in the near future.
United continue to look more comfortable in a low block
Ruben Amorim raised eyebrows with the selection of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte in the pivot in a home game.
As was to be expected, the passing left a lot to be desired and there was some extreme wastefulness in possession.
Although the positive side was the team looked rather solid in the face of significant City possession.
In a match reminiscent of the home game versus Arsenal last month, United were happy to let the away side have the majority of the ball in the first half and would look to hit on the counter and it almost came off as they missed two or three big chances to take a lead into the dressing room at half-time.
It will not be the way Amorim will hope to approach big games in the long term but perhaps there is a blueprint for the short term and in particular, upcoming vital Europa League knockout matches.
Yoro shines
Yoro has become a regular fixture in the United side ever since Lisandro Martinez picked up a serious injury earlier this year.
He has regularly impressed and once again stood up when his team needed him.
In a weakened backline due to the loss of De Ligt, Yoro showed courage and leadership in the derby match.
He was proactive and showed great physicality and desire in his duels.
The exciting talent also demonstrated his exciting composure on the ball as he took charge and stepped up into the midfield to carry the ball forward with aplomb.
While there have been many negatives in the 2024/2025 season at Old Trafford, Yoro is certainly not one.
Featured image Michael Steele via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
