PEP CLOSES IN ON THE PRIZE
Second-half goals by Bernardo and Sane break United spirit to leave Liverpool fearing worst spirit to leave Liverpool fearing worst
He did not even make that much fuss when the final whistle blew. That must hurt. No histrionics or touchline sprints necessary for Pep Guardiola this time.
it was almost matter of fact. He shook hands with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, hugged a few players and staff, shook hands with members of Manchester United’s staff, applauded City’s fans, and on to the next one. Job done. That is what it is for Manchester City at Old Trafford now. A job. Another three points garnered, another flag planted on the way to the summit. Win at Burnley on Sunday and one might imagine the mood will be little different.
The red halves of Manchester and Liverpool may have built this one up as a seismic event but United are living off their reputation now — their traditional status as members of the elite.
They were not bad last night, but they were not in City’s class. They played with energy, they had a go, and then City found their game after half-time and there was only going to be one winner. That is why they are champions — and why, in three games’ time, they might be again.
What City have done under Guardiola is change our understanding of a good result. When Liverpool came here in February and drew 0-0 it was considered a decent point. City’s win makes us re- evaluate that perception so, actually, Liverpool dropped two points at Old Trafford. Had they won, they would still be top of the table, the title in their hands.
in that respect, it was to City’s advantage that they came here knowing exactly what they had to do. Maybe, had this game taken place earlier, they would have settled for a point, too. instead, Guardiola was upset at the pace of his players in the first half, too ponderous in attack, and too wasteful.
They looked quicker after halftime. Then, when Fernandinho came off second best in a challenge with Paul Pogba — a fair one, it must be said — Guardiola sent on Leroy Sane and deployed ilkay Gundogan deeper.
instantly, City were improved. Fernandinho had been excellent to that point, and will be hugely missed if he joins Kevin de Bruyne as a longer-term casualty, but Sane’s raw pace was what City needed. They sped away from United, scored two goals in 12 minutes, took charge of the match — and the title race, too.
As the goals went in, the tension evaporated. A disturbing number of red seats were revealed as home fans left — so much for relishing defeat as a way of hurting Liverpool — and the pocket of away fans grew louder and more boisterous. Some might still claim United fans see Liverpool as their great rivals, but the blue half of Manchester will never grow tired of inflicting pain on their nearest neighbours.
City’s goals were good, both of them, but questions will continue to be asked about the form of United goalkeeper david de Gea. For so many seasons the club’s outstanding player, he has not been the same since delivering an ordinary World Cup for Spain last summer.
it was Gundogan, supposedly the holding midfielder, who created the breakthrough goal. He picked out Bernardo Silva after a driving run and the Portuguese cut inside and struck a quick, low shot, which took de Gea entirely by surprise. He was slow going down — as he was for the second against everton on Sunday — and was beaten at his near post.
it was no more than Bernardo deserved, mind. Not just for another tireless stint last night but for his performances over the season. He was shortlisted for Players’ Player of the Year, and it was well deserved.
The clincher came after Fred conceded possession again. Raheem Sterling took advantage this time, embarking on a quite brilliant, direct, counter-attacking run, turning Victor Lindelof and outstripping several red shirts before picking out Sane. His shot was fierce but might de Gea have saved it a year ago? Plenty thought so. So that was it: the game in hand proved no day of reckoning after all.
City did not falter, faced with the intense pressure of an away derby in which only three points could do, and reds from both Manchester and Liverpool ended the night downhearted. City were victorious, imperious and returned to the top of the league, a point ahead, plus goal difference. Close out games
against Burnley, Leicester and Brighton and there is nothing Jurgen Klopp and his players can do. Someone else will have to stop City. United were not good enough and, like Liverpool in January, missed their chance.
Still, at least United did not surrender meekly. Those predicting an easy ride for City had obviously suffered a blank when recalling g Manchester from the derbies days rays when United weree the best team in town. Those games should hhave been b walk-overs, too.
Yet in the title years under Sir Alex Ferguson — 1992-93 to 2012-13 inclusive — the teams met 39 times and on 16 occasions United failed to win. As is so often the case with derbies, the form book counted for little. Across periods of the first half, it appeared the same might happen here.
City were always classier, but United had their moments and did not look the lacklustre, disjointed shambles that conceded four at half pace to Everton on Sunday. To that end, they put Marcus Rashford on Vincent Kompany, the young legs against the old head, and 10 minutes in it paid dividends. Rashford got the jump on Kompany, who body- checked him and picked up the first caution of tthe night. He did well to play out the remaining 80 minutes without another. United had a few tries from range — Pogba, Andreas Pereira, Fred — but their best chances came early. A fine crossfield pass from Pogba was met by Jesse Lingard, whose volley flew just wide of the far post. Equally dangerous was a break after De Gea had saved from Bernardo Silva, which ended with Lingard finding Rashford, who was thwarted by Ederson, saving bravely at his feet and sending the England man flying in the process. Lingard had a good chance to equalise before City scored their second, too, but swung at the ball and missed his kick with the goal gaping. As for City, Sterling had a couple of chances in the first half and Sergio Aguero after half-time, but once they were ahead, this was a very measured display.
Their opponents from here are all capable of cussed resistance and they will need every drop of patience and resolve to take nine points. It is no exaggeration to say they might even have tougher games ahead, adding further insult to a United side who have now lost seven games in nine, their worst run since 1962.