Aguero makes impact as Laporte’s

Dean Henderson did his best to keep Manchester City at bay, but Sergio Aguero, their Peter Pan of a poacher, simply will not be denied at the moment. The Argentina striker’s eighth goal in his past five games, and 21st of the campaign from a brilliant pass by Kevin De Bruyne, was enough to see off a stubborn Sheffield United on a night when Pep Guardiola could also rejoice at the return of the superlative Aymeric Laporte.

Henderson’s heroics had, at least until Aguero entered the fray, frustrated the champions. The former England Under-21 goalkeeper, on loan from Manchester United, saved a Gabriel Jesus penalty during a first half when he also made excellent stops to deny Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Otamendi.

But then Aguero came on to replace the Brazilian and, within six minutes of his introduction, he had found the net. He has 252 goals now in eight and a half years at City. Wayne Rooney scored 253 over a 13-year

United.

Star billing, though, went to Laporte, who was making his first appearance since damaging his right knee against Brighton on Aug 31, and he slotted into the left side of City’s three-man defence like he had never been away.

“Incredible – we have missed him a lot,” Guardiola said. “Imagine the best teams in the world losing their best central defender?

“His left foot and many actions in the build-up make it quicker and better. Then there’s his character and winning mentality – he has all the attributes. For me, he is the best left central defender in the world.”

Laporte’s reintroduction to the Premier League was anything but a gentle affair. The game was only 13 minutes old when Mo Besic scythed through the Frenchman with an industrious challenge. The first of seven yellow cards on a raucous night set the tone for a thundering, full-bloodied and sometimes cynical match. There were running battles everywhere you looked, none more so than between the tireless figure of Oli Mcburnie and Fernandinho, who had somehow escaped censure for two sly fouls until finally making it into Lee Mason’s book before the half-time whistle.

Henderson had already denied Sterling and Otamendi by the time period for

Manchester

City won a penalty in the 35th minute. Chris Basham tripped Riyad Mahrez, but Henderson saved Jesus’s spot-kick, the seventh of 13 penalties he has kept out.

“He was probably the only one in the ground who was delighted a penalty was given,” joked Chris Wilder, the Sheffield United manager, who is eager to keep him in the long-term.

“He wants to play first team football. I’m not so sure he’ll play back up to anybody. If there’s a decision from Manchester United for him to come out to us for another year we’ll take it.” A first senior start for England surely cannot be far away, either. “They must be a good group of goalkeepers in that England setup if they’re getting in ahead of him,” Wilder added.

On the other hand, Guardiola is becoming increasingly concerned by the number of penalties his side are missing and admitted he would reconsider his penalty taker. “I have to reflect on it,” he said. He joked he might even be tempted to hand Ederson, his goalkeeper, the role. “Ederson is the best taker we have. He doesn’t have blood in his veins! He could do it.”

It was impossible to overstate how much more assured City were with Laporte in defence. He oozed conviction, to the point where it was hard to believe he had been out for almost five months, and the impact on the team was marked. But, boy, did Wilder’s men make them work. If there was a frustration for Wilder, it was that, after seeing his side do so well to close down the space around De Bruyne for much of the night, the Belgian was given just enough room to zip a gorgeous pass-cum-cross through the legs of John Egan and beyond the reach of Jack O’connell for Aguero to tap home at the far post. Even Henderson did not stand a chance.

Sheffield United