City and United are hoping to put painful seasons last year behind them in Sunday’s early season Manchester derby

Manchester City and Manchester United have spent fortunes on some of the world’s best attacking players, and yet, Sunday’s derby will spotlight their goalkeepers.

City secured Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain, and United landed Belgium international Senne Lammens on transfer deadline day to solve problems in their lineups.

Even though United confirmed on Friday that Lammens would not be starting in goal, all the focus will be on those attempting to stop the goals rather than score them.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the latest Manchester derby, and this time, one with a twist.

What have Man City said about Donnarumma?

City manager Pep Guardiola says he is willing to adapt the team’s approach following the signing of Donnarumma and will not expect the Italian to offer the same ball-playing abilities as the departed Ederson Moraes.

Ederson, who ended his trophy-laden eight-year spell at City by joining Fenerbahce last week, revolutionised the goalkeeper position in English football with his distribution and technical skills.

That made him a perfect fit for Guardiola’s style of play, but the same cannot be said of Donnarumma, a brilliant shot-stopper whose strength isn’t passing the ball out from the back.

Donnarumma is in contention to make his debut for City against United following his move from Paris Saint-Germain, although Guardiola wouldn’t confirm whether the Italy international will start.

“Always, I try to adapt to the quality of the players,” Guardiola said Friday. “I will not demand Gigi do something that is uncomfortable.

“We are talking about the best player I have ever seen in the distribution, short or long, with Ederson. We didn’t take Gigi to do what Ederson has done. Gigi has another quality.”

Guardiola said he wasn’t trying to “undermine” Donnarumma by pointing out Ederson’s qualities and spoke glowingly about his new signing’s strengths.

“He’s so tall. He’s so huge,” Guardiola said with a smile, adding: “He’s a big presence on the big stages.

“What he has done in the Champions League last season at Villa Park, Anfield, many games, proves how good he is.”

Guardiola said he met Donnarumma for the first time on Wednesday but didn’t see him train on Thursday.

“We’ll see,” Guardiola said when asked if Donnarumma will come in for James Trafford, who has started City’s first three games in the Premier League – a win at Wolverhampton before back-to-back losses to Tottenham and Brighton.