In the race for the Premier League title, Manchester City maintained their pressure on Liverpool by reducing the gap between themselves and the league leaders to just one point. This was accomplished by coming from behind to overcome their city rivals Manchester United by a score of 3-1 on Sunday.
Marcus Rashford scored the first goal of the match for the away team with a tremendous strike from approximately 22 yards out. This was Rashford’s sixth goal of the season in all competitions. The match was a dramatic one that had two goals that were really incredible.
Erling Haaland came agonizingly close to equalizing the score and booted a chance from yards out over the crossbar during the first half of the match. United was able to weather the attacks that City launched against them. Pep Guardiola’s team would ultimately get one back, with Phil Foden curling in a fantastic long-range strike into the top-left corner of the goal after the break. This would be the first time that they had scored since the restart.
Following that, Foden increased his tally once more in the 80th minute to give the home team a 2-1 lead. Erling Haaland then scored his 18th goal of the Premier League season, which allowed him to move two goals ahead of Ollie Watkins at the top of the league’s leading scorers table.
In this edition of Mail Sport, Jack Gaughan and Chris Wheeler provide their player evaluations from the Manchester derby that took place on Sunday.
Manchester City kept the pressure on Liverpool as they went within one point of the Premier League leaders on Sunday after beating Manchester United 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium
Phil Foden (right) scored twice, while Erling Haaland (left) scored in injury time to help seal a comeback victory for Pep Guardiola’s side
Erik ten Hag’s side suffered their second successive defeat in the Premier League after losing 2-1 to Fulham last week
Manchester City player ratings
Ederson – 7
Nothing else to save other than Marcus Rashford’s unstoppable strike. Crucial intervention as United broke late on.
Kyle Walker – 7
His pace contributed to a couple of big moments defensively. Occasionally loose on the ball when moving forward.
Ruben Dias – 7
Some hairy moments when United went long. Settled down as the game wore on. Passed into midfield nicely.
Nathan Ake – 7
Clever moments to navigate away from trouble. Marginally played Bruno Fernandes onside for the opener.
Kyle Walker largely came through his defensive tests impressively and contributed to attacks well
John Stones produced an excellent performance akin to his display in the 2023 Champions League fina
John Stones – 7
Actual midfielder rather than a hybrid.
Silk on the ball in much the same way as last year’s Champions League final.
Rodri – 8.5
Key to the last goal. Some brilliant screening during the match – a tough assignment given United’s route one countering approach.
Phil Foden – 9
Constantly the brightest spark for the champions. Won them the game. England’s most exciting player.
Kevin De Bruyne – 7.5
Slightly rushed display on a day City knew they had to win. Still carried City forward with real purpose.
Bernardo Silva – 8
Significant role in slowing City down after the break. Everywhere: ended up playing three different positions.
Rodri (left) produced some brilliant screening during the match – a tough assignment given United’s route one countering approach
Foden scored his second goal of the game with a pinpoint strike across goal into the bottom corner
Jeremy Doku – 5
Another disappointing afternoon for the winger, who is struggling to live up to his early-season performances.
Erling Haaland – 7
Miss of the season contender just before the break – but then wrapped the game up in stoppage time.
Substitutes
Julian Alvarez (for Doku, 59) – 7
Oscar Bobb (for Foden, 90) – N/A
Manager
Pep Guardiola – 7
Will be annoyed his team conceded first on the break, but will be enamoured over how his team fought their way back into the match. Brought Alvarez on for Doku just before the hour mark, who produced the assist for Foden’s second.
Erling Haaland missed a huge chance earlier in the game before striking late in stoppage time
Jerey Doku (right) struggled to live up to his early season form, during the match
Manchester United player ratings
Andre Onana – 6.5
Denied Foden a one-one-one in the first half and made fine reflex saves to deny Rodri and Doku as well. Couldn’t be faulted for any of the goals.
Diogo Dalot – 6
Had his hands full with Doku for an hour and kept him relatively quiet before switching to left-back where he struggled.
Raphael Varane – 6.5
Led the defensive effort and succeeded in containing Haaland until injury-time.
Andre Onana denied Foden a one-one-one in the first half and made some fine reflex saves to deny Rodri and Doku as well
Victor Lindelof started at left-back but endured a tough afternoon and he was United’s weak link
Jonny Evans – 6
Age and a slight knock were against him, but used his experience to help United try to withstand almost non-stop pressure.
Victor Lindelof – 5
Playing the Swede at left-back was always going to be Utd’s weak link and so it proved when he couldn’t get close enough to Foden for the equaliser.
Scott McTominay – 5
Played as an extra midfielder to try and give the back-four more protection. It worked for a while but United were fighting a losing battle.
Casemiro – 6.5
So deep he filled in as a third centre-back at times. Made some important blocks but almost gifted Haaland a goal with a poor header.
Scott McTominay played as an extra midfielder, shielding the back four, but his sweeper role became ineffective after a while
Casemiro made some important blocks but almost gifted Haaland a goal with a poor header
Kobbie Mainoo – 6
Another United man who threw himself in the way of everything City had to offer.
Went off before Foden’s decisive second goal.
Marcus Rashford – 6.5
Opened the scoring with a stunning strike but missed a couple of chances after that and faded long before he went off.
Bruno Fernandes – 7
Played as a false nine and did well to set up the goal for Rashford.
No shortage of effort but it was all in vain.
Alejandro Garnacho – 5
With United on the back-foot, this was never going to be his kind of game and he struggled to get into it.
Substitutes
Amrabat (for Mainoo 82) – 4.5
Antony (for Rashford 75) – 5
Kambwala (for Evans 60) – 5.5
Bruno Fernandes played as a false nine and did well to set up the goal for Rashford
Alejandro Garnacho struggled to get into the game particularly with Man United on the back foot
Rashford struggled to make a sustained impact on the game despite his staggering opener
Manager
Ten Hag – 6
Said he wanted to overload the midfield and cause ‘a bit of confusion’. It worked for a while but the gulf between these two teams is too great.