PEP HAS WON HAND ON THE TITLE

Guardiola’s relentless side are champions in all but name after derby win extends lead at top

THEY are champions in all but name.

Some bookies have already paid out on Manchester City with just a third of the season gone. This win was emphatic proof of why.

Do not be fooled by the scoreline. This was a chastening defeat for Jose Mourinho and Manchester United, one that confirmed the huge gulf in class between them and City, who now hold what looks an unassailable 11point lead over their neighbours.

This was a 14th Premier League win in a row, a record in a single season, which also ended United’s 40-game unbeaten run at Old Trafford.

United fans mock their City counterparts over the perceived number of empty seats – 20,000 according to the chant – at the Etihad Stadium.

But well before Michael Oliver blew for full-time, there were great swathes of upturned red seats around Old Trafford, disgruntled home supporters having already seen enough.

While Guardiola was mobbed by his jubilant coaching staff, Mourinho strode straight down to the tunnel, his hands in his pockets.

Guardiola has now won 10 of their head-to-head encounters, Mourinho just four, further proof of the edge the Spaniard has over the Portuguese.

City’s goals may have been scruffy, at odds with the majesty of their general play, but that will not matter to Guardiola and his men. The game was 15 minutes old when away fans chanted “Park the bus, park the bus, Man United”, mocking the manner in which the hosts were happy to sit back and concede possession.

Mourinho had picked a four-pronged attack of Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Romelu Lukaku, full of pace, guile and youthful industry.

But any notion of him abandoning his customary cautious and pragmatic instincts were swiftly dispelled, as City put Uniteds on the dizzying passing carousel that is the hallmark of every Guardiola side.

Given United had to win to have any realistic chance of getting back into the title race and were at home, their approach – given such a bold team selection – was curious to say the least.

City are always going to dominate possession because of their manager’s passing philosophy.

But even accounting for that, United were remarkably subdued and compliant. The tone of the game was set early on, City spraying the ball around with assurance and style, United unable to get anywhere near it. But City were unable to turn that dominance into a goal, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus shooting straight at David De Gea early on. Much of the pregame talk was of City’s vulnerability from set-pieces, and there was a certain irony in both of their goals coming from deadballs, the first after 43 minutes.

Kevin De Bruyne, imperious throughout alongside David Silva, slung in a corner met by Romelu Lukaku, under pressure from Nicolas Otamendi. Lukaku succeeded only in diverting the ball towards his own goal and into the path of the grateful Silva, who hooked it into the net.

It was deserved reward for first-half dominance, but a double error from City’s defence allowed United to level just before the break. Nicolas Otamendi missed a header, Fabian Delph also failed to cut out the ball and when it reached Marcus Rashford he steered it beyond Ederson.

The visitors restored their lead in the 54th minute. Silva’s free-kick was met by Lukaku, whose defending from setpieces went from bad to worse when he clattering the ball against team-mate Chris Smalling.

Otamendi was the grateful recipient this time, lashing home.

City had numerous chances to kill the game, but failed to take them, with De

Bruyne foiled by a majestic save from De

Gea.

Lukaku was put through on goal by Jesse Lingard with 25 minutes left, but United’s top scorer, who had just three touches in the opposition area all game, blasted high and wide.

Then came an incident that had Mourinho seething. Ander Herrera tumbled under a 79th-minute challenge from Otamendi in the City box and was booked for diving.

An double save from Ederson six minutes from time thwarted first Lukaku and then Juan Mata.

The title may not be won in December, but City already have one hand on the trophy.