Old Trafford: In a tense, edgy derby, the Blues gradually took command after the break to seal a 2-0 victory over Manchester United, on Wednesday. That takes the defending champions back above Liverpool with three games remaining for both clubs. It was City’s eleventh straight Premier League victory as this absorbing title race saw the lead at the top change for the 28th time this season. Pep Guardiola said both Manchester City and Liverpool deserve to win the Premier League title after his side brushed aside Manchester United 2-0 on Wednesday to top the table again.
Bernardo Silva and Leroy Sane struck for the visitors in 12 second-half minutes at Old Trafford to inflict a seventh defeat in nine games on United, who remain three points adrift of the top four. Guardiola’s City have 89 points after 35 games, with Liverpool a point behind. Both sides have just three games remaining. The game didn’t start at the frenetic pace many predicted as both teams weighed each other up. United seemed to be looking for a lift to get the Old Trafford crowd behind them and a rushed clearance from Vincent Kompany did exactly that as the Blues were perhaps guilty of overplaying a tad.
United put together one or two threatening moves before City twice came close to opening the scoring, first with a deflected Raheem Sterling shot that almost wrong-footed David de Gea and then as Bernardo thumped a powerful shot from 18 yards out but de Gea beat the ball away. Moments later Ederson saved bravely as Marcus Rashford raced into the box and Fernandinho then twice prevented United breaking through as he first cleared a dangerous free-kick and then made a superbly-timed tackled to stop another counter-attack.
The Blues finished the half strongly as Sterling came close to finishing a superb move involving David Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Sergio Aguero with the England winger collecting the ball, dancing past two challenges before seeing his low drive saved by de Gea from six yards. City started brightly after the break with Bernardo’s excellent run at the United defence, but a combination of Sterling and Silva failed to get a shot in. The excellent Fernandinho then made a superb block-tackle as Paul Pogba shaped to shoot from the edge of the box – and that would prove the influential Brazilian’s last act as he limped off shortly after. But a tactical reshuffle immediately seemed to give the Blues better balance and intensity and on 55 minutes, the vital breakthrough.
Highlights
Second-half goals from Bernardo and Leroy Sane gave City a priceless 2-0 win over Manchester United at OId Trafford.
In a tense, edgy derby, the Blues gradually took command after the break to seal a victory that takes the defending champions back above Liverpool with three games remaining for both clubs.
It was City’s eleventh straight Premier League victory as this absorbing title race saw the lead at the top change for the 28th time this season.
