City Take Top Spot After Manchester Derby Win

Man City took all three points in the Manchester Derby and put themselves top of the Premier League table with three games to go!

Pep Guardiola’s side went to Old Trafford knowing that only a win was good enough. They were two points behind Liverpool but this was their game in hand. With only three games of the season remaining neither of the two sides can afford to slip up now.

City went into the game with a lot of confidence. They had already beaten United this season when the two sides met at the Etihad in November. The visitors were also in good form, they had won their last 11 games whilst conceding only three goals. United were the complete opposite. They have blown a great chance to get in the top four after losing to Wolves and Everton recently in the league. United have lost seven out of their last nine games in all competitions, something that didn’t look possible after Oles fantastic start.

The game

United started the game well and looked a different side to the one that got battered 4-0 against Everton on Sunday. They started with far more intensity and the crowd were up for it. The games first few chances fell to the hosts as well. Lingard went close with a volley and Rashford nearly took it round Ederson, but for some fantastic goalkeeping.

City took a while to start playing like we are used to but eventually we started to see the best. A good passage of play saw Bernardo have the first real effort of the game. Striking the ball first time from 25 yards out for De Gea to save well. The game started to turn at this point and City enjoyed spells of good possession. Sterling came closest to opening the scoring. He took on the majority of United’s defence in the box and managed to get a shot off from about 8 yards out. However, it wasn’t hit with enough power and De Gea got down well to keep it at 0-0 at half time.

The first half was a cagey affair. Both teams not wanting to commit to much and some big tackles going in. In total there were three yellow cards in the first half.

City came out the second half a different team. A team with real intent and one that knew they had to win. An early injury to Fernandinho meant Sane had to come on which changed the game. Bernardo dropped deeper and got on the ball more.

It was the Portuguese midfielder who opened the scoring. He got the ball out wide and drove into the box running at Shaw. He took the shot on when he got just inside the box finding the bottom right corner of the goal. This was exactly the start Pep would have wanted.

City took control form this point, but United had a good chance to level. Rashford playing a ball across the face of goal and Lingard completely missing the ball. After this chance City went up the other end and were close to doubling their lead. Aguero hit the post from the edge of the box.

The game was over though minutes later. A City counter-attack saw Leroy Sane leading the way. He got the ball on the edge of the box and smashed it goal bound. De Gea stuck out a leg and the ball went in. The Spanish keeper is having a tough season and should have done better with this effort.

The game ended 2-0 to City and with it, Pep became the first ever manager to win three consecutive away games at Old Trafford.

The title race

Man City are now top of the table by one point. Both sides have three games remaining with Man City the favourites to win the league. Bet365 have them at 1/4, with Liverpool at 3/1.

City have got to play Burnley and Brighton away, as well as Leicester at home. Liverpool take on Huddersfield at home on Friday followed by a trip to Newcastle and then Wolves on the last day.

If they win all three games each City will finish on 98 points and Liverpool on 97. 97 points would have won the league in any other season except for last year.

Liverpool at 3/1 could be a good bet as Leicester have already beaten City this season, Burnley got a good result this week against Chelsea and Brighton may still be in a relegation battle on the last day.