City beat United 4-1 in Manchester Derby

Manchester City ease past neighbors Manchester United 4-1 at the Etihad in the Manchester Derby.

Both Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez scored a brace as Manchester City defeated bitter rivals Manchester United 4-1 in the Manchester derby.

City started the day three points ahead of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table and they were keen to make their mark early in this crucial game, with De Bruyne slotting in coolly from Bernardo Silva’s cross to put the home side ahead just five minutes in to the match.

United battled back however, as Paul Pogba fed the ball to in-form Jadon Sancho, who curled a brilliant shot past Ederson to level the derby 15 minutes later.

Fortunately for Pep Guardiola, De Bruyne was on hand again to tap in City’s second before the break. Phil Foden’s shot was blocked, as was Silva’s on the rebound, before the ball fell to the Belgian to poke home and put the hosts ahead going in to half-time.

City stepped up their game in the second half, piling pressure on United with relentless attacking play. Their efforts bore fruit in the 68th minute when Mahrez caught De Bruyne’s cross sweetly on the half-volley to put the Sky Blues firmly in control with 3 goals to 1.

City notched up 69 percent possession in the game and their dominance was evident throughout, as United struggled to come up with any answers for Guardiola’s league leaders. City almost compounded United’s misery in the 81st minute when Joao Cancelo attempted a spectacular scissor kick, which David De Gea saved at full stretch.

Mahrez sealed City’s impressive victory with a fourth goal in the dying minutes of the game, latching on to a through ball before burying it beyond De Gea, with a glance off the goalkeeper’s face. The goal was initially disallowed for offside before VAR reversed the decision.

It was an embarrassing afternoon for the Red Devils, who managed just five shots compared to City’s 24 across the 90 minutes. Ralf Rangnick’s side remain fifth in the Premier League table, whilst City move six points ahead of Liverpool at the top, who have a game in hand.

Manchester United – De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles, McTominay, Fred, Elanga (65’ Lingard), Pogba (65’ Rashford), Sancho, Bruno Fernandes

Unused Subs – Bailly, Jones, Mata, Dalot, Henderson, Matic, Mejbri

Manchester City – Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Cancelo, De Bruyne (80’ Gundogan), Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Mahrez, Foden, Grealish

Unused Subs – Sterling, Jesus, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Carson, Delap, Mbete, McAtee