After Manchester United got battered by Everton 4-0 on Sunday, the performance was always going to be much better. United matched Manchester City in the first half for pace, energy and enthusiasm. The difference was that Manchester City were sloppy and apart from some of the defeats this season, it was one of the worse 45 minutes of City’s season.
The sides went into the break 0-0, Manchester City came out much faster and much better than United. Bernardo Silva, after a poor first half, highlighted his quality as he dribbled through a few challenges and almost set up a goal scoring chance. Fernandinho, who was City’s best player in the first half, went off injured and you would be forgiven for thinking that United would capitalise.
However, Bernardo Silva went on another clever run and was able to put the ball in the corner past a helpless David de Gea. The game then continued in the same nervous fashion in the first half, but Raheem Sterling decided to drive forward with the ball and played an excellent through ball to Leroy Sane. The German found some fortune as de Gea did not get a strong enough foot to prevent the ball from going in the back of the net.
Here’s how I rated the players:
