Hot Rod in

MIDFIELD ACE SHOWS CITY CAN

RODRI once again inspired Manchester City to victory – but the biggest cheer of the day came for a guy who did not even get on the pitch.

When Kevin De Bruyne set off for a warm-up in the moments after Julian Alvarez scored Manchester City’s second goal, the Etihad erupted.

The gifted midfielder’s been out for four months with a hamstring injury and his side have been far from their best without him.

But for all that, the champions moved up to third with this routine win over bottom-placed Sheffield United and are suddenly just two points from top spot.

When De Bruyne does finally return, possibly in the FA Cup against Huddersfield next Sunday, Pep Guardiola’s side are ominously only going to get better.

All five trophies won by City in 2023, including the recent Club World Cup, were brought out on to the pitch at the start of the game. City, with their first league clean sheet since October, started fast and it soon became clear they were in no mood to end the year on a downer.

Rodri opened the scoring after picking up Phil Foden’s neat touch before unleashing a right-footed arrow from 20 yards out in the 14th minute.

It was the Spaniard’s fourth league goal of the season.

Alvarez looped a header just over the bar moments later before Foden slipped Bernardo Silva through.

But the Portuguese saw his effort tipped wide by Wes Foderingham, who must have started feeling this was some sort of attack versus defence drill.

Kyle Walker, who hails from the Steel City and started out at the Blades, seemed more desperate to score than any of the City side. The England defender had four efforts in the first half alone but could not find the net.

After not killing off the visitors, City must have feared a smashand-grab raid – especially when William Osula had two chances saved in quick succession before the break.

Even Guardiola seemed slightly rattled, booked for blowing up in the face of fourth official Chris Kavanagh after Vinicius Souza bundled Silva off the ball.

City spurned more chances after the break, Foden being denied again by Foderinghan and Alvarez blazing over.

But the hosts finally got their second when Oscar Bobb, on for Jack Grealish, produced a peach of a ball to get Foden into space.

The England star slid it across for Alvarez to net his 12th goal of the season in the 61st minute to ensure City moved level on points with Arsenal.