Joe Hart v David De Gea: The Key Battle In The Manchester Derby

The Manchester derby on Super Sunday may not be as pivotal in the title race as in previous seasons, but it still remains one of the biggest games in the Premier League calendar with both teams keen to get one over their city rivals.

The key to who comes out on top in the 171st derby in all competitions could be the form of the two goalkeepers, who have become mainstays of this fixture in recent seasons.

Since joining Manchester United in the summer of 2011, only David De Gea and his Man City counterpart, Joe Hart, have played every minute of all nine Premier League meetings.

In those games, it is clearly the England international who comes out on top with more clean sheets and fewer goals conceded than his opposite number.

In general, Hart has an excellent record in Manchester derbies having won six of those nine meetings, and no City player has won more Manchester Premier League derbies than Hart.

Across the Premier League, Hart is also having another good season. The 28-year-old, who has won the Golden Glove award for most clean sheets a record four times, again tops that ranking, with De Gea joint-third.

While the importance of Hart to Manuel Pellegrini's team cannot be underestimated, the same is true for De Gea's importance to United. Since returning to the side after signing a new deal with the club in September, the 25-year-old is the only United player to start every Premier League game. It's quite some statistic given Louis van Gaal has used a league high 33 different players this season.

The Spaniard has been an important part of the Premier League's second tightest defence this season and has kept the third most clean sheets in Premier League history for United.

De Gea's first league involvement in the Manchester derby was the infamous 6-1 defeat at Old Trafford in October 2011 and although their noisy neighbours have had the better of recent meetings, winning six of the last nine in the League, United's No 1 will be hoping to build on his first clean sheet in this fixture in the goalless draw at Old Trafford in October.

However, he is likely to be up against an in-form Sergio Aguero, who has scored eight goals in eight appearances in Manchester derbies. Indeed, no player has scored more Premier League goals against De Gea than the Argentina international (seven).

By contrast, Hart will be happy Wayne Rooney is absent with a knee injury as no player has scored more league goals against him than the England captain (six).

Both Manchester teams have been involved in a Premier League high five goalless draws this season, due in no small part to the form of their respective goalkeepers. Another clean sheet would be welcomed by both custodians, but the viewing public will be hoping at least one of the goalkeepers will be beaten on to extend a run of no consecutive goalless draws in this fixture that has stood since 1973-74.

Credit: Skysports.com