Alex Ferguson wheeled out all his big guns as Manchester United looked to preserve a 29-year unbeaten home derby-day record by shooting down City at Old Trafford.
Skipper Roy Keane and first-choice keeper Tim Howard were recalled after missing the midweek win over Stuttgart, and Kleberson, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs were named in the same side for the first time as Ferguson opted for a policy of all-out attack to blitz the Blues.
City boss Kevin Keegan, who gained local bragging rights last term with a win and a draw against the Red Devils, stuck with the side which gained a creditable goalless draw at Everton on their last league outing.
However, without a win in seven matches, City were long odds against recording their first away win against United since Denis Law sent his old club tumbling into the Second Division back in 1974.
Man Utd:Howard, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O'Shea, Kleberson , Phil Neville, Keane, Giggs, Scholes, van Nistelrooy. Subs:Carroll, Ronaldo, Butt, Forlan, Fortune.
Man City: Seaman, Jihai, Dunne, Sommeil, Distin, Wright-Phillips, McManaman, Barton, Sinclair, Fowler, Anelka. Subs: Stuhr-Ellegaard, Reyna, Sibierski, Wanchope, Berkovic.
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire)