Manchester United vs Manchester City. Premier League.
Old TraffordAttendance74,431.
Watch highlights as City go a point clear of Liverpool with three games remaining, starting at Burnley on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League at 2.05pm
Thursday 25 April 2019 10:57, UK
Manchester City overcame a massive hurdle in the Premier League title race with a 2-0 win at rivals Manchester United, leaving them a point clear of Liverpool with three games remaining.
After a first half lacking in clear-cut chances, City took the lead through Bernardo Silva on his 100th appearance for the club as his low shot from 15 yards beat David de Gea at his near post (54).
It was 2-0 just 12 minutes later as sub Leroy Sane struck a low effort through De Gea, who should have done better, as City scored a record-breaking 157th goal of the season in all competitions.
City now face Burnley (A), Leicester (H) and Brighton (A) knowing they will retain the Premier League title with three wins, while Liverpool finish with Huddersfield (H), Newcastle (A) and Wolves (H).
United stay sixth, three points off fourth-placed Chelsea, who they will face on Super Sunday.
United made five changes and were the longest odds they had ever been for a home Premier League game at 6/1, but despite knowing a victory would strengthen the title hopes of bitter rivals Liverpool, the atmosphere inside Old Trafford was still ferocious.
United stifled City for the opening half hour, restricting the champions to longer balls and efforts from outside the box, while the hosts went closest when Ederson rushed out superbly to block Marcus Rashford.
The best chance of the half fell to Raheem Sterling, who danced his way to within eight yards of the United goal, only to see his low shot on the stretch saved and held brilliantly by De Gea.
But City upped the ante in the second half and took the lead nine minutes after the restart through Bernardo Silva, shooting through Luke Shaw from 15 yards on the right of the box, and beating De Gea at his near post.
It was nearly 2-0 moments later as Sergio Aguero hit the post from the edge of the box with a curling effort, while at the other end Jesse Lingard could not get his feet right to turn home into an open net at the far post from Rashford's looping cross.
City did double their lead from a counter-attack as sub Sane, who had been on the pitch just 15 minutes after replacing the injured Fernandinho, struck home from 15 yards despite De Gea getting a touch on the effort with his right foot.
David Silva risked an unnecessary red after leaving a high boot on Andreas Pereira, which referee Andre Marriner missed, but City saw the game out comfortably, and took a massive step towards becoming the first team to retain the Premier League title since United in 2009.
"We spoke about leaders and characters - I just don't think they have enough of them. These young players need examples around the club and that's the big question mark.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: "You need to think long term, but you learn about players more and more, whether they've gone into a conmfort zone, and who will be willing to sacrifice to take us forward?
"That's what im finding out, and those are the ones you want to continue with. "[I want to be sure] when we come back pre-season that I have the right characters in and around. When you are Man Utd, the highlight will be on you, the headlines, so you've got to make sure you come into work every day, and [give] the effort they gave today, that's your duty."
Pep Guardiola: "Now is the time to be calm. Don't read, don't turn on the TV, don't listen to the radio. You cannot imagine how tough it was for all of us to go out of the Champions League when we thought it was there. It was really, really tough. Then we have Tottenham at home, not the best performance. But we stayed alive."
City's crushing Champions League exit against Tottenham could easily have derailed their season, but their response has been exemplary.
Gary Neville was shocked that United had run five kilometres less than Everton on Sunday; they ended up four kilometres behind City on Wednesday night.
Excelled in the biggest game of Man City's season. Composed on the ball, worked hard and kept City ticking over even in a difficult first half. Allowed City to excel after half-time.
Manchester City now go to Burnley on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League; kick-off at 2.05pm. Meanwhile United host Chelsea at Old Trafford, also on Super Sunday live on Sky Sports Premier League; kick-off at 4.30pm.
