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Manchester United edged past Manchester City in an enthralling Manchester Derby at the Etihad on the 7th of December. The hosts started the game well and immediately imposed their passing identity.
However, the visitors fought back instantly and started scything through the hosts’ defence on the break. Consequently, they created several goal-scoring opportunities, each of which were saved by Ederson.
However, just after a quarter of the game had passed, Bernardo Silva brought down Marcus Rashford in the box. After consultation with VAR, Anthony Taylor awarded the penalty. The striker did the rest as United were full value for their lead. Six minutes later, Anthony Martial beat the City keeper at his near post to extend the Red Devils’ advantage.
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After the break, the Sky Blues seemed purposeful as they kept pushing and probing for a way back into the game. Though the Etihad broke into a deafening roar in the 85th minute, courtesy Nicolas Otamendi’s goal, it only proved a consolation rather than acting as a springboard for an unlikely comeback.
Here is a look at the talking points from the encounter.
#5 Manchester United tear City to shreds in a breath-taking first half
Manchester United came into the encounter on the back of an encouraging display against Tottenham on Wednesday, a showing that enabled them to get the better of the Lilywhites. Thus, there was palpable excitement in the red half of Manchester, despite the prospect of travelling to the Etihad.
And, in an effervescent first half showing, the Red Devils portrayed their recently-found air of sanguineness as they ripped City open on the counter attack several times.
The game started off frenetically with both sides looking to get into the ascendancy. While the hosts dominated possession in the early exchanges, the Red Devils carved out the first clear-cut chance when a swift break found Daniel James on the right edge of the box. The Welshman stung Ederson’s palms, although the shot was straight at the keeper.
A few minutes later, Jesse Lingard raced through on goal on the left channel and saw his shot thwarted by the Brazilian’s left boot. In the 16th minute, Martial too had his strike blocked by Ederson.
Yet, seven minutes later, the Red Devils were rewarded for their brilliant counter-attacking performance when Bernardo Silva brought down Rashford. Though the referee initially decided against awarding the spot-kick, VAR ensured that the right outcome was arrived at. The Englishman stepped up and converted the penalty.
Despite going a goal ahead, United showcased immense bravery and courage to attack in numbers in transition as they created numerous instances of numerical superiority, especially on the flanks.
And, unsurprisingly, Martial made the net bulge again in the 29th minute to put the hosts firmly under strife.
Apart from their offensive display, the Red Devils were also quite organised defensively. For large swathes of the opening period, they held a good defensive line whereas their midfielders also fulfilled their individual tasks.
Fred and Scott McTominay in particular, performed their roles exemplarily as they marshalled the likes of David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne. Additionally, the visitors’ midfielders were excellent at running off their opposite numbers, meaning that they didn’t allow City’s attacking players to retreat in transitions.
Over the course of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure at the helm, not many have been convinced about his tactical nous, with many questioning his suitability for the job. Yet, on Saturday, he unfurled quite a shrewd tactical trick to catch City and Pep Guardiola off-guard.
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#4 Bernardo Silva uncharacteristically fails to turn up
Across Manchester City’s twin title-winning campaigns, Bernardo Silva cast himself as perhaps Guardiola’s most trusted lieutenant, courtesy his ability to double up as a central midfielder and a winger. Unsurprisingly, the Portuguese has started the majority of clutch clashes, with his exceptional work-rate also aiding his credentials. However, on Saturday, the midfielder turned in a timid performance.
Starting on the right flank, the Portuguese tried to beat Luke Shaw numerous times but failed on most occasions as the Englishman held his ground. Besides, Bernardo failed to influence proceedings whenever he ventured in-field, meaning that the brunt of creative responsibility fell on De Bruyne.
And, though the midfielder did his fair share of defensive work, he was probably guilty of being a little too over-eager at the end of the first quarter of the game.
After Rashford had danced his way past a couple of challenges, he made his way into the penalty area where Bernardo dangled a leg, caught the striker near his thigh and brought him down. The resulting penalty was put away and it laid the foundation for an improbable United victory.
Over the past eighteen months, Bernardo has rarely put a foot wrong on the field, especially when plying his trade against the top clubs. Yet, at the Etihad, he arguably took a step too far in the box, only to consign his team to several strides backwards.
#3 Aaron Wan-Bissaka leads a dogged defensive display
On the 9th of February, Manchester United travelled to Craven Cottage and emerged with their rear-guard completely intact. The Red Devils ran out 3-0 winners as the ‘Ole’s at the wheel’ bandwagon generated a head of steam. Since then though, they’ve failed to distinguish themselves defensively, meaning that they haven’t kept a clean sheet.
And, though that trend continued at the Etihad, they certainly put in a dogged defensive display to ensure that they came away with all three points firmly tucked in their bag.
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof were colossal at the heart of the defence, although the latter endured a few patchy moments with the ball at his feet. Apart from that, the pair expertly snuffed out the danger City posed as they held their line and influenced the hosts to try something extravagant.
In midfield, Fred and McTominay were superlative as they covered every blade of grass at the Etihad. They tracked their runners diligently and also functioned as auxiliary centre-backs when the situation demanded.
However, the most impressive performance was turned in by Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back. Despite enjoying his first rendition of the Manchester Derby, the Englishman looked calm and confident against Raheem Sterling. The defender kept his countryman at bay for large stretches of the game and even popped up in central areas to effect clearances.
Moreover, he rarely allowed Sterling and Angelino to get goal-side, thereby forcing them to come in-field and work the ball through the centre, an area United had compressed considerably.
Ever since Solskjaer has been appointed, the Red Devils have, at times, dreamt of returning to the summit of English football, courtesy the attacking brand of football the Norwegian has preached, off-the field.
However, rather funnily, United’s stunning defensive performance at the Etihad could be the moment Ole’s wheel takes a turn for the better. And, inevitably, courtesy that showing, they ensured that the Manchester red overshadowed the blue on the most red-letter footballing day in the city.
#2 Manchester City weave plenty of pretty patterns without an end product
Manchester City stuck four past Burnley on Tuesday, thereby ensuring that they warmed up perfectly for the Manchester Derby. However, those aspects failed to come to the fore on Saturday, meaning that the Sky Blues, despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession, were left ruing what could’ve been.
The hosts started the game brightly and got into a passing rhythm swiftly. In the first half, they created numerous situations where they got into good crossing positions. Yet, rather uncharacteristically, they fluffed their lines in the offensive third.
De Bruyne, for once, was wasteful with his crossing whereas Silva also wasn’t able to influence proceedings as much in the decisive attacking areas. Additionally, Sterling failed to come up trumps against Wan-Bissaka as Gabriel Jesus was left feeding off scraps for the entirety of the encounter.
More worryingly though, a rather recurring pattern came to the fore on Saturday. Unlike last season, City have failed to capitalise on their magnificent possession statistics, meaning that they’ve allowed teams an avenue to get back into the game.
The above was laid bare against Wolverhampton Wanderers and more recently, at Newcastle. And, unfortunately, those facets reared their ugly head when the Red Devils came calling.
Though it might be premature to label ‘GuardiolaBall’ as a fading philosophy in the Premier League, one can’t help but wonder if teams have started working out an antidote.
And, if that is indeed the case, the Spaniard has a monumental task on his hands trying to add another string to City’s already burgeoning bow.
#1 Have United handed Liverpool the title on a platter?
Before the Manchester Derby began, Manchester City were 14 points adrift of Liverpool, having played a game less. Thus, a victory would’ve reduced that arrears to 11 points with 22 fixtures left to play. However, the Sky Blues crumbled to another defeat as they remained 14 points off the perch.
In 2018-19, City dropped a total of 16 points as they surged ahead of the Reds to clinch the title. Incidentally though, the loss against United has consigned them to a maximum of 98 points this season, meaning that they’ve already given up as many points in 16 games as the whole of the last term.
More worryingly though, their rivals, Liverpool, have shown no signs of letting up and are churning out results even when they haven’t been playing well. Unsurprisingly, they’ve drawn only a couple of their matches whereas they’ve posted victories in the remaining contests.
Thus, at this juncture, it seems highly unlikely at City would be able to peg the Reds back. Firstly, the deficit seems too steep whereas the Sky Blues’ patchy form is also not strengthening their credentials. Secondly, they also have to contend with an ever-growing injury list, especially after the hamstring injury John Stones suffered on Saturday.
Back in the late 1980s, a fearless Scotsman arrived at Manchester United and promised to knock Liverpool off their perch. Sir Alex Ferguson succeeded marvellously and left behind a side that had defined the English top-flight.
Yet, since his departure, United have only intermittently featured in the title discussion. And, while they are nowhere close to winning it this time round too, they’ve ensured that their noisy neighbours are as far off the perch as possible.
However, that has come at the cost of laying the title on a platter for Liverpool. Rather ironically, the club that consigned the Reds to a barren spell stretching nearly three decades, might be the outfit helping the Merseysiders quench their Premier League thirst.
