In a Manchester derby where one team coveted the ball and the other paid too much attention to closing spaces, the points went to City. The 2-1 win ended United's 40-game unbeaten run at home and, perhaps, some of the arguments that City can be caught in the title race. There were some gaps and weaknesses but, overall and despite moments of panic at the end of each half, the leaders deserved to go 11 points clear.ck.
Positives
Rewarded for 42 minutes of stylish possession with the first goal, Pep Guardiola's men also showed how to dig in when the going got frantic and Nicolas Otamendi was immense at the back. Ball retrieval from Kevin de Bruyne and tough tackling by David Silva also featured as City put in a real shift.
Negatives
The first half's good work was thrown away in an instant as Fabian Delph's error allowed a scarcely deserved equaliser to United. With Vincent Kompany also looking hesitant early, City's backline faltered at times when put under pressure from long and high balls.
Manager rating out of 10
8 -- Guardiola chose to play Gabriel Jesus ahead of Sergio Aguero in an attack with a strange look to it: Jesus on the left, Leroy Sane on the right and Raheem Sterling breaking through the middle. Sterling hauled his marker Ander Herrera all over the place, but Sane and Jesus both looked better when they reverted to their normal positions in the second half.
Player ratings (1-10, 10 = best, players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Ederson, 9 -- With a lot of attention on his opposite number David De Gea's majestic form, Ederson pulled off a miraculous double save late on to deny Romelu Lukaku with his chin and Juan Mata with his hands. City's No. 1 also dealt with shots from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
DF Kyle Walker, 7 -- Fast in recovery and mainly active in defence and midfield, as United came through on his side. He was booked early for a crunching tackle on Herrera and caught dithering on a couple of occasions.
DF Vincent Kompany, 6 -- Looked hesitant from the start and his first pass was an unnecessary punt out of play. Pulled back by referee Michael Oliver for an excellent tackle on Herrera and replaced at half-time.
DF Nicolas Otamendi, 9 -- Snuffed out an early threat from Martial and was always keen to launch attacks. Involved in both goals, with the ball breaking from him for Silva to open the scoring and then netting the second himself. Otamendi also made critical blocks.
DF Fabian Delph, 5 -- Chose this of all games to look rattled and unsure. He was at fault for the equaliser, which needed a simple clearance, and again late on when allowing Rashford through for a shot on goal.
Tom Purslow/Man Utd via Getty Images
MF Fernandinho, 7 -- Offered a cool head in front of the defence and moved back into Kompany's position for 15 minutes at the start of the second half, before City reorganised again. Played one amazing ball through the right-hand channel for Jesus but mostly busy with containing duties.
MF Kevin De Bruyne, 8 -- Made a very active start, busily retrieving balls from a hectic midfield and delivering them to teammates. Kept the ball moving in tight spaces.
MF David Silva, 9 -- Became increasingly influential as the game developed, dictating City's attacking pace and blocking United's midfield men with a deceptively aggressive tackling. Another balletic finish City ahead but he collected a yellow for an overzealous charge on Herrera, which was immediately followed by a kick at Nemanja Matic.
MF Leroy Sane, 7 -- A game of two halves for the German, who was slightly lost on the right side, then more involved when he switched to the left. That said, he was still too slow and too decorative in his delivery in a game that demanded speed of thought and production.
MF Raheem Sterling, 8 -- Increasingly important to Guardiola's system. He dragged Herrera all over the pitch from his central position and ran the United defence ragged in the second half, as the game opened up. Like Sane, though, he was too slow with the final ball on occasions.
FW Gabriel Jesus, 8 -- Though he played wide left, he was a constant danger with his close control. Some mesmerising slaloms and hold-up play
Substitutes
MF Ilkay Gundogan, 7 -- Replaced Kompany at half-time and played an energetic 45 minutes that involved two great chances that were not taken.
DF Eliaquim Mangala, 7 -- On after 58 minutes to shore up the defence and allow Fernandinho back into midfield, he won countless high headers and completed the clearance after Ederson's double save.
MF Bernardo Silva, NR -- On for Sane after 87 minutes for another of what are becoming his usual corner-flag cameos.
Source: espn.co.uk