Manchester City cut the gap between themselves and league leaders Liverpool with a 2-0 victory against Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon.
Rodri opened the scoring for the hosts with just 14 minutes on the clock, but the Cityzens were unable to double their advantage in the first half. However, the Blades could only hold out until the hour mark, Julian Alvarez grabbing a second to wrap up all three points.
The result moves Man City level on points with Arsenal before the Gunners’ clash with Fulham on New Year’s Eve and just two points off Liverpool.
How the game unfolded
Unsurprisingly, Man City were the side that dominated early proceedings, Phil Foden’s neat flick setting up Alvarez for the first shot of the game just two minutes in. Despite some brief forays forward from Sheffield United, it was indeed the newly crowned world champions that took the lead with less than a quarter of an hour played.
Manuel Akanji fired a pass into Foden, the Englishman’s touch falling into the path of Rodri. The holding midfielder delicately dinked it over the outstretched leg of a defender before poking the ball beyond Wes Foderingham from the edge of the area for his fourth league goal of the season.
Man City continued to pass Sheffield United to death but Bernardo Silva’s shot from a tight angle was the closest they came to doubling their lead in the first half.
The Blades could have levelled before the break. William Osula spurned a wonderful chance following Jayden Bogle’s excellent cross and the Dane then saw his header comfortably saved from the subsequent corner, while Bogle tested Ederson himself with a left-footed effort just before half-time.
Man City picked up from where they left off in the first half in terms of their domination of territory, Foden almost grabbing an early second. The Englishman was sent through on goal but couldn’t quite round goalkeeper Foderingham, with Alvarez firing over just a minute later inside the box.
Alvarez would atone for his previous miss shortly afterwards, tapping home from Foden’s precise ball across the face of goal. Substitute Oscar Bobb helped create the second with a delightful threaded pass, and with an hour played, the game looked beyond the reach of the Blades.
City’s Argentine forward almost grabbed a fortuitous third for the hosts, charging down Foderingham’s clearance and watching the ball fly just beyond the post. However, Pep Guardiola’s side couldn’t add more gloss to the scoreline in the dying embers of the match, settling for a 2-0 victory at the Etihad.
GK: Ederson – 6/10 – Barely tested, with the saves he made incredibly routine.
RB: Kyle Walker – 7/10 – Far more impactful going forward as he was seldom called on defensively. Frequently showed his blistering pace, making runs beyond Luke Thomas at wing-back.
CB: Manuel Akanji – 7/10 – His incisive pass ultimately led to the opener. A comfortable afternoon in his own half.
CB: Nathan Ake – 8/10 – Showed his class defensively, often using his pace to make up ground. Won all of his physical battles.
LB: Josko Gvardiol – 7/10 – Made some good forward runs to support Jack Grealish and Bobb and looked sharp down the left flank.
CM: Mateo Kovacic – 6/10 – Helped progress the ball up the pitch for the hosts but often ended up deeper than Rodri. Booked for a cynical foul on Osula after surrendering possession in the first half.
CM: Rodri – 8/10 – Scored a wonderful opener that the benched Kevin De Bruyne would have been proud of in the first half. Broke up play typically well when required.
RM: Bernardo Silva – 7/10 – A wonderfully intelligent footballer who caused plenty of problems for the Blades’ backline. Sheffield United couldn’t handle his movement in the final third.
AM: Phil Foden – 9/10 – Was given the freedom of the Etihad as he waltzed in and out of Sheffield United defenders. Grabbed two assists and his influence grew as the game wore on. Another effortless showing.
LM: Jack Grealish – 5/10 – Couldn’t get any joy up against a resolute Sheffield United defence in the first half and was withdrawn early in the second. Bogle dealt with him relatively comfortably.
ST: Julian Alvarez – 7/10 – Grabbed one of the easiest goals he is ever likely to score thanks to Foden’s lovely pass. Plenty of neat touches in and around the box.
Substitutes
SUB: Oscar Bobb (51′ for Grealish) – 7/10 – Helped create City’s second with a wonderful ball to Foden.
SUB: Ruben Dias (67′ for Walker) – 6/10
SUB: Rico Lewis (67′ for Kovacic) – 6/10
Subs not used: Stefan Ortega (GK), Sergio Gomez, Kalvin Phillips, Matheus Nunes, Kevin De Bruyne, Micah Hamilton.
Manager
Pep Guardiola – 7/10 – You would expect Man City to enjoy a comfortable afternoon up against the bottom-placed side in the league, and they certainly did. Bar the very, very occasional fright, it was a routine victory for Guardiola’s men.
GK: Wes Foderingham – 5/10 – Made one fingertip stop to deny Silva in the first half but was helpless with City’s strikes. Almost gifted City a goal with his blocked clearance and his passing was generally poor.
RWB: Jayden Bogle – 7/10 – Did well in his individual duel with Grealish and posed the majority of his side’s attacking threat.
CB: George Baldock – 6/10 – Committed in a deep-lying defensive unit but struggled in the second half once Bobb came on.
CB: Jack Robinson – 6/10 – Barely put a foot wrong in his own box but still couldn’t prevent City from easing to victory.
CB: Auston Trusty – 7/10 – Helped cover Luke Thomas down the left and made some good interventions throughout.
LWB: Luke Thomas – 6/10 – Had to cope with Silva and Walker overloading the left flank and performed admirably given the challenge.
CM: Vinicius Souza – 6/10 – Not shy of throwing his weight around at the Etihad but couldn’t stamp his authority on the game, often a second too late to the tackle.
CM: Oliver Norwood – 6/10 – Some decent set-piece deliveries but didn’t see much of the ball at all.
AM: Anis Ben Slimane – 5/10 – Got through plenty of defensive work but couldn’t influence the game in an attacking sense.
AM: Andre Brooks – 6/10 – Worked his socks off but, much like Slimani, was isolated when Sheffield United turned the ball over.
ST: William Osula – 5/10 – Missed a rare opportunity to equalise for the Blades, miscuing Bogle’s well-timed cross towards the end of the first period.
Substitutes
SUB: Cameron Archer (67′ for Osula) – 6/10
SUB: Rhian Brewster (67′ for Slimani) – 5/10
SUB: Ben Osborn (80′ for Brooks) – N/A
SUB: Rhys Norrington-Davies (90′ for Thomas) – N/A
Subs not used: Adam Davies (GK), Yasser Larouci, Femi Seriki, Benie Traore, Oliver McBurnie.
Manager
Chris Wilder – 6/10 – His side did themselves justice and fought hard for every ball. In the end, they just lacked quality in the final third.
Player of the match: Phil Foden (Man City)
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