Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City: ‘Anything decent on telly between now and May?’ – title race declared over after thrilling Manchester Derby

Manchester City Manchester United FC
Posted by

Manchester City may well have ended this season’s title race with a 2-1 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford that sends them eleven points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola’s side look out of sight now after goals from David Silva and Nicolas Otamendi gave them a priceless three points against their nearest title challengers.

Despite Marcus Rashford’s equaliser, it was a lacklustre display from United, and from summer signing Romelu Lukaku in particular as his sloppy defending gifted City both of their goals.

Here’s how it all unfolded in today’s Manchester Derby…

Man of the match

David Silva had a superb game for Manchester City against Manchester United

Quite a few City players could take it, but we’re going for Spanish midfield maestro David Silva.

The 31-year-old ran the show from the middle of the park as he always does, and also helped himself to the important opening goal.

He’s done it Manchester Derbies time and time again, and Silva remains one of the most important players in this unstoppable-looking Guardiola side.

Flop of the match

There can be no hiding for United striker Romelu Lukaku, who had a shocker in arguably the biggest game of his career to date.

Romelu Lukaku flopped big time for Manchester United

The Belgium international went missing, not having a touch in the opposition penalty area until the 78th minute – and that was a pretty botched first touch that saw a chance go astray as well.

Most embarrassingly, however, Lukaku was trolled by fans for giving City two assists in the game – ducking out of the way of Silva’s opener, and clearing the ball to Otamendi for the second.

With the goals also drying up lately, fans will be starting to wonder what on earth Lukaku is for…

Stat of the match

It’s a piece of history for Manchester City, who have matched Arsenal’s record of 14 league wins in a row, and surpassed their record of 13 in a single season.

The Gunners won 13 consecutive matches at the end of 2001/02 and then made it 14 by winning their opening game in 2002/03, but Guardiola’s men will now have their sights on more history in their next game.

Which ever way you look at it, this is one special side.

Player ratings

Manchester United: De Gea 6, Rojo 5, Smalling 6, Valencia 6, Young 7, Matic 6, Herrera 6, Lingard 6, Rashford 7, Martial 6, Lukaku 4 / Subs: Lindelof 6, Ibrahimovic 6, Mata 6

Manchester City: Ederson 7, Kompany 6, Otamendi 8, Walker 6, Delph 6, Fernandinho 7, De Bruyne 7, D.Silva 9, Sterling 7, Sane 7, Jesus 7 / Subs: Gundogan 7, Mangala 6, B.Silva 6

Reaction

Unfortunately, the Twitter hounds went in hard on Lukaku for his role in United’s defeat…

Meanwhile, predictably the view of pretty much everyone is that the title is now done and dusted for the season…

More Stories David Silva Jose Mourinho Marcus Rashford Nicolas Otamendi Pep Guardiola Romelu Lukaku