Supersonic City
Otamendi, chested De Bruyne’s corner towards his own goal and the unmarked Silva hooked the ball home.
That finally prompted an attacking response from United and they equalised in first-half added time. Both Otamendi and Fabian Delph failed to cut out Marcos Rojo’s cross and Rashford fired home.
Both teams had to make a change at half-time. United sent on Victor Lindelof to replace Rojo, who had suffered a gash in a clash of heads with Silva, and Ilkay Gundogan came on for Vincent Kompany.
When City regained the lead nine minutes into the second half, the provider was again the unfortunate Lukaku. His attempted clearance from Silva’s free-kick hit Chris Smalling on the back and rebounded to Otamendi, who was unmarked to smash the ball into the net from inside the six-yard box. De Gea made a fine save from De Bruyne to prevent City taking a 3-1 lead.
The introduction of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Mata at last gave United some attacking momentum but Ederson’s double save denied them an equaliser that would have been hard on City.
It is going to take a remarkable collapse if Guardiola does not go on to add the English title to the Spanish and German versions he has already acquired.
MAN UTD (4-2-3–1): Booked: Goal:
try to play and that is what we have done. We’re clear, we are open, we want to attack.
“People said we couldn’t play the way we did in Barcelona in England but it is possible and we did it. I knew that last season. I always believed we could do it here.
“Everyone can play how they want, that’s why football is so beautiful.
“I’m happy to go to Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford and to beat them in this way.”
But Guardiola refused to accept City already had one hand on the title.
He said: “In December you cannot be champions. Of course it is important for our confidence to feel we can compete.
“We are so happy to win 14 games in a row but will see what position we are in in March and April.”
Mourinho invited ridicule when he said of Herrera going down: “It was a huge penalty in a crucial moment of the game.”
He continued in the same vein, adding: “When you see City play you expect them to score great goals, not to score two disgraceful goals.
“The last goals you expect to concede against a quality team like City, two very bad goals, with rebounds. They were incredibly lucky or unlucky, depending on your perspective.
“Yes, they had much more of the ball and the apparent control but the biggest save is the double save of their goalkeeper and the biggest decision is the unlucky decision of the referee.”
As for the Premier League title race, Mourinho said: “It is a significant advantage but we will try.”