Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United: 3 things we learned from the game 

2. Fred and Mctominay come out on top against the best midfield in the country

Manchester City v Manchester United - Premier League

Manchester City's midfield is regarded as the best midfield in the country by a mile, and with the trio of David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Rodrigo on the pitch, you wouldn't give the opposition midfield a chance. However, Scott Mctominay and Fred once again stepped up for Manchester United, this time against their arch-rival and relished the challenge that was in front of them.

The midfield duo stole the show with their performance against Tottenham during the midweek and continued their excellent form against Manchester City. Mctominay was the orchestrator of United’s counter-attacks in the first-half, winning possession in dangerous areas and driving forward with the ball.

On the other hand, Fred did all the dirty work of closing down the opposition and helped his side in defence. They also nullified the threat of De Bruyne and Silva by marking them out of the game. The duo have created a formidable partnership in the middle of the park and their qualities complement each other on the pitch.

Both of them have massively stepped up during Paul Pogba’s absence and it will be interesting to see how Solskjaer sets up his side when the Frenchman returns to full fitness.

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1. Manchester United might be the best counter-attacking side in the country

Manchester City v Manchester United - Premier League

Manchester United showcased one of the best counter-attacking displays we’ve seen in a while at the Etihad Stadium. The Red Devils soaked up the pressure from the opposition and as soon as they won the ball back, they transitioned it into the final third with brilliant one-touch passes through the midfield.

The frightening pace of the front-four made life difficult for the Cityzens and their movement behind the City defence made them impossible to mark. Solskjaer’s men created a huge number of chances and could have lead by 4-5 goals in the first half alone. The Red Devils are one of the best, if not the best, counter-attacking sides in the country and their record against the top-six this season reflects that.