MAN UNITED 1, MAN CITY 2
The Premier League title race looks all but over following Manchester City’s win against neighbours United at Old Trafford in the 175th Manchester derby.
It was a massive statement from Pep Guardiola’s side in this battle of the Premier League’s top two.
City made it 14 straight league wins – a Premier League record for one season and equal to Arsenal’s total over two seasons – to move 11 points clear.
And City also ended United’s remarkable run of 40 home games unbeaten – they were the last team to win at Old Trafford in September 2016.
Guardiola also dismissed Jose Mourinho’s accusation that City were lucky and his side was denied a blatant penalty.
“It was the same as last season – we won because we were the better side in all departments,” explained Guardiola.
City’s manager added they went out to win as they also did at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.
“I am happy because some people said you cannot play that way in England,” he continued.
Guardiola added that championships cannot be won in December but this win was great for confidence.
Mourinho complained about decisions not going the way of his team.
He said: “They are a very good team, but they are lucky and always get decisions in their favour.
“It was definitely a penalty (Nicolas Otamendi on Ander Herrera) and a big call like last season when it was exactly the same.”
Mourinho was unhappy with the goals conceded, describing them as “disgraceful”.
“They were two very bad goals from a corner and free kick and incredibly lucky or unlucky depending on the perspective,” he said.
“And the biggest save was the double save from their keeper (Ederson).”
Mourinho added there was a “significant distance” between City and United in the table, but they will be fighting match by match to reduce that.
Mourinho went with an attack minded 4-3-3 that included Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard.
Their side showed two changes from the side that started at Arsenal as Rashford and Herrera replaced Victor Lindelof and the suspended Paul Pogba.
City, also playing 4-3-3, made three changes from the side that beat West Ham last Sunday as Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus replaced Eliaquim Mangala, Danilo and Sergio Aguero.
David Silva recovered from the knock picked up against the Hammers.
The start was frenzied as so often the case in derbies and Kyle Walker was booked in the fourth minute for upending Herrera.
City enjoyed a remarkable 81-per-cent possession in the opening quarter of an hour, but all they managed were shots by Raheem Sterling and Jesus, but both were weak and straight at David De Gea.
The opening half hour saw City have six goal attempts to United’s none, but De Gea was not troubled.
Marcos Rojo was booked for a challenge on Silva, but came off worst as he had to leave the field after a lengthy stoppage to have his head bandaged before returning. Initially the physios signalled for him to be substituted.
De Gea pulled off a super save to deny Sane after Fabien Delph’s deep cross floated over the head of Ashley Young.
But it was only a temporary reprieve as City took the lead from the resulting 43rd minute Kevin De Bruyne corner.
Otamendi and Lukaku went up for the ball which broke towards goal and Silva hooked it past De Gea from six yards. It was their ninth goal attempt of the half.
United’s first one came in stoppage time when Martial cut in from the left and fired low at Ederson.
But in the second of four minutes of added time came the equaliser when Otamendi and Delph both failed to cut out a cross from Ashley Young leaving Rashford free to slot the ball low past Ederson.
After a fairly lukewarm opening, the game exploded to life in the dying minutes, but City will be kicking themselves at being level having had 75-per-cent of first-half possession.
There were two changes at the break as Ilkay Gundogan replaced the injured Kompany with Fernandinho switching to centre back.
United brought on Lindelof for Rojo who was clearly struggling after the clash of heads.
There was more intensity about United’s play from the restart as they didn’t allow City to dictate the game as they had done in the opening period.
City regained the lead, though, in the 54th minute after a piece of calamitous defending from United.
Lukaku’s clearance from Silva’s free kick struck Chris Smalling in the back and rebounded to Otamendi who volleyed home from six yards for fifth goal of the season in 15 appearances. Before this season he had scored twice in 97 games.
City made a second change just short of the hour with Mangala replacing Jesus which enabled Fernandinho to move back into midfield.
United had two openings, but Lukaku blazed over and Rashford’s free kick also cleared the crossbar.
De Gea then came to United’s rescue with a terrific save low to his right to keep out De Bruyne’s goalbound drive.
An error by Delph allowed Rashford to break clear and his shot was superbly saved by Ederson.
United made a second change with 14 minutes left as Lingard made way for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. And that was soon followed by Juan Mata replacing Herrera.
City were indebted to Ederson for holding on to their lead as he made an unbelievable double save to deny Lukaku and Mata, the first effort striking him in the face and he blocked Mata’s follow-up effort.
Guardiola made his last change with two minutes left as Bernardo Silva replaced Sane.
And it was impressive how City game managed the latter stages by taking the ball into the corners and ensuring United struggled to get possession, a trait of champions.