After defeats against Brighton and Brentford at the start of the season, the worst was expected for Erik ten Hag when Manchester United played Liverpool, who had won both meetings between the two sides by an aggregate score of 9-0 last term.
Around 10,000 supporters marched against the Glazers' ownership of the club before that clash in August and the tangible anger against the American family was brought into the stadium and redirected against the club's fiercest rivals.
Old Trafford was electric and instead of the anticipated embarrassing defeat against Liverpool, the players rose to the occasion and produced a performance which many thought was not possible, with United recording a 2-1 victory.
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Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford scored the goals and they were enough for the three points, despite a late, desperate attempt from Liverpool to find an equaliser in the closing stages after Mohamed Salah halved the deficit in the 81st minute.
It was a surprise result, especially when considering the Brentford debacle had taken place just a week before, and that evening also saw a change of approach from Ten Hag, who was perhaps naive with his tactics for the opening two matches.
Ten Hag started Harry Maguire against Brentford and he named Fred, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes in his midfield three. Maguire struggled with the pace of Ivan Toney and co and the midfield lacked physicality and control.
Raphael Varane and Scott McTominay replaced Maguire and Fred respectively for Liverpool, but it wasn't just the personnel that was changed, as the approach itself, the manner in which Ten Hag wanted his side to play, had been tweaked.
United reverted to counter-attacking tactics and they were ruthlessly efficient during transitions. That pragmatic approach was not how Ten Hag wanted his side to play, ideally, but it was necessary at that time to get points on the board.
The Reds defeated Southampton, Leicester and Arsenal after that win and Ten Hag had managed to improve the mood around the club, despite a disastrous start, which had led supporters to wonder if anything had actually changed.
A reality check against Manchester City followed shortly after that positive period, but there have been no more major setbacks in the season and United have now gone seven games undefeated by trying to play the football that Ten Hag wants.
Ten Hag was asked about his style of play when he was appointed and he said: "We want to play a proactive style of football – on the ball and off the ball. That is, trying to do that has to be our intention and it’s now, firstly, the coaches bring it over to the team that we are, in every situation, proactive. We are brave and willing to have the ball, to give each other options.
"But also off the ball, to get the pressing style is what we’re working for together. I think it’s the way I am. Of course, I want to bring the energy in my team. But I must say, the players do really well. They are really focused. They bring, for themselves, the energy.”
The glimmers of Ten Hag's philosophy have come increasingly sustained in matches this season and the ultimate test of the progress this side is making will come against the reigning Premier League champions City at the weekend.
Although City have not seemed at their best in this campaign, they still control the majority of the matches they contend and it will be interesting to see whether Ten Hag reverts to a counter-attacking approach, which hasn't been seen in months.
The dressing room will be confident heading into the match, but where the players are, in regard to aligning with Ten Hag's philosophy, will be revealed by how United approach the Manchester derby: proactive football or passive football?
Ten Hag wants United to be 'proactive' and bravery is required to play in that fashion against Pep Guardiola's side.
It will be tempting to counter-attack on Saturday, but Ten Hag will want United to go toe-to-toe with the opposition.
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