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Goals from Kean Bryan and Oliver Burke helped Sheffield United pick up an unlikely 2-1 victory away to Manchester United on Wednesday.
The hosts started on the front foot, with Paul Pogba dominating the midfield. However, they failed to translate their domination into clear-cut chances.
Sheffield United went ahead against the run of play from their first set-piece when a corner kick was not properly dealt with by the Manchester United defence in the 23rd minute.
Kean Bryan rose highest to score his first goal for the Blades and put the side 1-0 up.
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This jolted Manchester United into life but despite their possession, they failed to truly test Aaron Ramsdale in the Sheffield goal.
It was more of the same in the second half, but the home side grabbed an equaliser through Harry Maguire, who headed home a corner by Alex Telles.
However, their reprieve lasted for just 10 minutes as a beautiful and patient team effort by Sheffield United was finished by Oliver Burke, who smashed into the Manchester United post off a deflection by Axel Tuanzebe.
Despite late pressure from the hosts, the visitors produced a resolute defensive display to ensure that they went back to Bramall Lane with all three points.
The defeat sees Manchester United remain in second spot and here, we shall have a rundown of five talking points from the fixture.
#5 Jekyll and Hyde campaign continues for Manchester United
Ever since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed manager of Manchester United, the club have lacked the consistency to genuinely compete for the biggest titles.
In many ways, it has been a case of taking two steps forward and three backwards for the Red Devils. This inconsistency has continued into the current campaign.
Having held the initial advantage in their UEFA Champions League group, the Manchester giants faltered and conspired to get eliminated to the Europa League.
This drew shades of previous seasons when they let precious advantages slip from their grasp by their own errors.
The 13-time Premier League champions came into this gameweek holding a slender advantage at the summit, but Manchester City's emphatic win over West Brom swung the pendulum back in favour of Guardiola's men.
A victory for United over the basement boys would have seen them reclaim top spot. However, they fluffed their lines and fell to a defeat against an out-of-sorts Sheffield United.
The Red Devils came into this game on a 13-game unbeaten run - the longest in the league - and they were expected to obliterate a Sheffield side that had picked up just five points from their opening 19 games.
However, the result went against the form book and run of play. Most worryingly for fans of the club, it was not entirely surprising.
This defeat follows a set theme, and if the Red Devils are to reclaim their pride of place at the summit, they must eliminate this propensity for dropping unnecessary points.
#4 Sheffield United pick up unlikely victory to aid survival hopes
As already indicated, the Blades came into this game having registered just one win from their first 19 games.
They were 14 points from safety and at the midway stage, they are already everybody's favourite for relegation to the Championship.
Considering the difference in form and pedigree of both sides, few would have given Sheffield United any chance against the in-form Manchester United.
However, a dogged defensive display, coupled with clinicality in front of goal, ensured that they registered an improbable victory against the Red Devils.
Despite the points, Chris Wilder's men are still a long way off from safety. However, this victory could prove to be a shot in the arm for an unlikely escape.
#3 Old Trafford woes continue for Manchester United
Manchester United have been almost invincible on the road this season. Earlier on, they set a club record for most consecutive away Premier League victories.
However, the same cannot be said about their home form, with this being their fourth defeat from just 10 league games at Old Trafford.
By contrast, the club are yet to lose on the road this season and sit at the top of the away table, with eight wins and two draws recorded from 10 games on their travels this term.
Once upon a time, Manchester United based their successes on making Old Trafford an almost impenetrable fortress, with visiting teams beaten before they stepped onto the field
While their form on the road might be the toast of the league, the lack of dominance on their own turf is a cause for concern.
#2 Shaky De Gea guilty in both goals
David de Gea was once arguably the standout goalkeeper in the league but his form in recent years have left a lot to be desired.
Despite the arrival of Dean Henderson, the Spaniard remains first choice but he would not want to look back on his performance against Sheffield United.
The 30-year-old failed to impose himself to deal properly with the corner by John Fleck, while he should have got a stronger hand when he came out to punch.
This allowed Bryan a free header in the middle of the six-yard area to put the visitors 1-0 up.
The Manchester United goalkeeper should also have cleared more emphatically when he was given a back pass, with his weak shot putting the United defence under pressure.
While he was not entirely to blame for both goals conceded by the Red Devils, more decisive goalkeeping from David de Gea would have prevented his side from conceding the two goals.
#1 Advantage Manchester City in the title race
Just few weeks ago, Manchester City were a club seemingly in crisis. Several injury problems, coupled with a lack of attacking verve, saw many rule them out of the title race.
However, the centurions have rediscovered their mojo in recent weeks, and an 11-game winning run in all competitions has propelled them to the summit of the table.
Their emphatic 5-0 defeat of West Brom on Tuesday saw the Cityzens climb to first position with a point advantage.
A victory for Manchester United would have seen the Red Devils usurp their city rivals once again. However, United's shock defeat at home means that the status quo was maintained at the summit of the table.
Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur clash on Thursday, with one or both sides guaranteed to drop points, while Leicester City were also held to a draw by Everton.
This means that Manchester City hold a one-point advantage heading into matchday 21 which, coupled with their game in hand, has firmly reinstalled them as favourites for the league title.
