MANCHESTER CITY have routed their cross-town rivals United after two goals each for Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez.
De Bruyne hit two either side of half time, but the home side have attacked their rivals relentlessly.
Jadon Sancho had equalised for Manchester United at the home of fierce rivals City, who the winger used to play for.
But City have looked the bigger threat, with wave after wave of attacks laying siege to David De Gea’s goal.
United are WITHOUT Cristiano Ronaldo as they look to grab a crucial three points at the home of Premier League leaders Manchester City.
City are just three points clear of Liverpool at the top of the league and need a big win against their enemies this afternoon.
SunSport revealed that CR7 failed to show up at the Lowry Hotel for team prep on Saturday and his absence has left United’s senior players stunned.
- Start time: 4.30pm GMT
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League
- Live stream: Now TV
- Man City team: 31. Ederson, 2. Walker, 5. Stones, 14. Laporte, 27. Cancelo, 16. Rodrigo, 17. De Bruyne, 20. Bernardo, 26. Mahrez, 10. Grealish, 47. Foden.
- Man Utd team: 1. De Gea, 2. Lindelof, 5. Maguire, 6. Pogba, 17. Fred, 18. B Fernandes, 25. Sancho, 27. Alex Telles, 29. Wan-Bissaka, 36. Elanga, 39. McTominay.
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Good day at the office
The Man City manager answered questions from the media after the game, assuring us that De Bruyne’s substitution was nothing to do with injury.
I told the players that today if you give a little bit, the fans will give it their all.
Pep Guardiola
Walking tour of Manchester
The effort by the Man Utd players in the second half seemed like they just weren’t interested at all.
After the third goal went in, they seemed to down tools and stop trying all together.
Many more performances like that could cause Sky Sports huge medical bills in calming down Roy Keane in the post-match punditry.
The million dollar question however remains, does anyone know how to fix the problems at Man Utd?
The stats don’t lie
A picture paints a thousand words…..
Long road ahead
A lot of managers have taken over this Man Utd team since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson and failed.
You have to wonder what is going wrong there for no manager being able to change their fortunes.
There is no quick fix for their issues, a long period of transition beckons to try and get back to where they want to be.
Leading by example
Interviewed after the game, a very grounded Kevin De Bruyne tells the media how they are just trying to focus game by game and not looking at what other teams are doing so much.
The cliché terms come out in abundance in these situations but in all fairness to the players, the questions are recycled just as much.
A lot of tests between now and the end of the season but City’s fate, in the Premier League, is in their own hands.
Goals, goals, goals
Considering they do not play with a recognised striker, that takes Man City to 68 goals in the Premier League this season.
They do not rely on one focal point for their attack like some of their rivals and as a result goals appear to come from all over the pitch.
Showing the gulf between them and their neighbours today.
FT: Man City 4-1 Man Utd
This defeat will hurt Ralf Rangnick’s team.
In their pursuit of Champions League football it could be crucial.
They may need to win it to be in it next season.
FT: Man City 4-1 Man Utd
The referee blows the whistle and this derby mauling is over for United.
City stretch their lead over Liverpool to six points again.
Manchester is blue tonight.
Man City 4-1 Man Utd
90+2. Well VAR took an age to make that decision.
The score probably reflects the game more now.
Kevin De Bruyne is awarded the man of the match award quite rightly.
Goal – Riyad Mahrez (Man City)
Man City 3-1 Man Utd
90. There will be two additional minutes.
De Gea hurts himself and collapses taking the goal kick.
City win the ball back and Mahrez is slotted in, the Algerian playmaker smashing it passed De Gea.
VAR is checking this one.
Man City 3-1 Man Utd – Gundogan chance!
89. They are queueing up to score now.
Grealish picks the ball up after Mahrez fluffs a chance to make it four.
He cuts the ball back to Gundogan at the back post who also mis-hits the shot wide of the goal.
Man City 3-1 Man Utd
87. Man City have had 92% possession since their third goal went in.
That is staggering considering there is only four places between these teams in the league table.
Men against boys since that Mahrez goal, United players just walking around the pitch.
Man City 3-1 Man Utd
85. City are still pressing in the final third of United’s half.
The Man City fans have stopped watching the game as they all do the Poznan.
United crave the final whistle.
Man City 3-1 Man Utd
83. Now the ultimate insult.
The constant ole’s from the crowd every time City touch the ball.
This is salt in the wound now for United, chasing shadows.
Man City 3-1 Man Utd – Cancelo chance!
81. The ball is drifted over to the back post from the byline on the right.
It is quite high in the air and Cancelo takes it on the volley in an overhead kick.
De Gea dives full-stretch to his left to save.
Man City 3-1 Man Utd – Man City subs
79. De Bruyne is replaced by Ilkay Gundogan.
Amazing ovation from the home crowd as their captain trudges off the pitch.
He has put in a good shift today.
Man City 3-1 Man Utd
77. The sad reality for United fans today is that the game shows they are still a way off their Manchester rivals.
At times they have created chances and caused City’s problems but the weak underbelly of their team is the defence.
It always looks like it can be carved open by a good attacking team.
Man City 3-1 Man Utd
75. There is probably enough time left in the game for a United comeback.
The big problem is that there doesn’t look like there is one in this Man Utd team.
This has been all City in the second half and one-way traffic.
Man City 3-1 Man Utd – Mahrez chance!
73. Grealish runs with the ball at Man Utd again.
He feeds it to De Bruyne who in turns finds Mahrez.
Shooting with his less favoured right-foot, De Gea manages to save.
Man City 3-1 Man Utd
70. The gaps are opening for City now.
United do not seem as keen to close them down and press now.
City can just kill this game off through possession of the ball now as ‘Blue Moon’ rings out across the stadium.
Man City 3-1 Man Utd
68. What a goal!
Training ground stuff from Man City.
De Bruyne takes the corner and drifts one into the back post quite deep towards the edge of the box.
Mahrez runs onto it and hits it on the half-volley beating De Gea into the bottom corner.
Goal – Riyad Mahrez (Man City)
Man City 2-1 Man Utd
66. The game is all City in an attacking sense.
Hopeful balls forward are United’s only form of attack at times.
They need to get their foot on ball, dominate possession and look for runners.
Man City 2-1 Man Utd – Man Utd subs
64. Elanga and Pogba leave the pitch.
Rashford and Lingard join the game.
They needed to do something to freshen things up, Pogba was just walking around the pitch in this second half.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
