United thrown out of the top four after City rout

 

City players celebrate after Kevin De Bruyne sent them in front against Manchester United on Sunday at the Etihad. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Manchester City took no prisoners as they walloped Manchester United 4-1 at the Etihad in a one sided affair to go six clear at the top again pending when Liverpool play their outstanding game.

Liverpool had beaten Westham in a keenly contested game at Anfield on Saturday to cut City’s lead at the top to three but Manchester United couldn’t do Liverpool any favors on Sunday as they offered little or no resistance to City’s rampaging showing.

Pep Guardiola recalled Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden upfront while Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan started from the bench. Kyle Walker came in for the injured Ruben Dias who was reported to have damaged his hamstring and would miss 4-6 weeks of premier league football.

United were without Cristiano Ronaldo and Rafael Varane, Edison Cavani was said to be available few days ago but didn’t even make the squad. Alex Telles replaced the injured Luke Shaw while Scott McTominay earned a recall to partner Fred at the base.

It was fast and furious and early on, Kevin De Bruyne tucked in the opener off a Bernardo Silva pass, it took just five minutes for the Cityzens to register their first goal but United pegged them back on the 22^nd minute.

Bruno Fernandes’ dummy move took Walker out of the scene as Jadon Sancho curled one past Ederson in the City goal, it tool only six minutes for Manchester City to restore their league.

City pelted the United goal with series of shots on target and it eventually fell to De Bruyne who completed his double.

The second half was completely a one sided affair. Manchester United had zero shot in the second half but City managed 10. Riyad Mahrez got on the end of a sensational corner kick that was a training move well worked to perfection to make it three and United were completely out of it at that point.

Mahrez made it four from a neat and tidy Gundogan pass, initially ruled out for offside but VAR called it back and it was rightly awarded. The loss sent United out of the top four and with the Gunners having three games on the Red Devils, it’s slipping away now.