1. Guardiola has transformed City already
SKY SPORTS COMMENTATOR and ex-Man United player Gary Neville described City’s first 40 minutes today as “one of the best” he had seen in the Premier League in recent years, and few would disagree.
To go to Old Trafford and play without fear, with an expansive attacking style which was retained even after they took the lead is a feat that’s seldom seen in English football.
At times, it almost felt reminiscent of a Champions League match from down through the years, when a top European side come to England and play with the type of swagger and confidence away from home that Preoier League teams rarely look capable of exhibiting.
There was an intensity and a slickness about City’s first-half play that they rarely showed in the big games last season, and the Etihad outfit will be strong favourites for the title if they can continue to maintain their current level in the coming months.
Central to the visitors’ positive, incisive play was Kevin De Bruyne, who was deservedly named man of the match for his performance.
The Red Devils simply could not deal with the Belgian international’s powerful running and intelligent link-up play, as the 25-year-old came back to haunt his former boss Jose Mourinho.
2. Man United’s big players disappoint
Despite one clear United penalty being ignored after a poor sliding challenge by the shaky Claudio Bravo on Wayne Rooney, City deserved their victory today, and one of the big reasons why they prevailed was that most of their key attacking players had a significant impact on the game.
In the first half in particular, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Nolito and Raheem Sterling were all prominent, as they controlled proceedings in front of an increasingly quiet Old Trafford.
By contrast, Paul Pogba, Wayne Rooney, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and even Zlatan Ibrahimovic — despite his fine goal — all had largely disappointing afternoons.
Pogba’s lack of discipline and reluctance to hold his position in midfield was one of the main reasons why City were so dominant in the first half.
Rooney also struggled to influence proceedings, with the England international looking worryingly off the pace and lacking in sharpness at times. A couple of poor challenges towards the end of the match were another sign of his growing frustration amid an ineffectual display.
And Mkhitaryan, on his first start, had a tough introduction to Premier League life. The 27-year-old midfielder was hauled off at half-time, and when Mourinho spoke afterwards of being let down by certain players, it was clear who he was alluding to.
And Ibrahimovic can also do better, as he failed to link up the attack in the manner that he can at his best, with United ultimately more reliant on long balls and the height of Marouane Fellaini, rather than the trickery and creativity of the enigmatic Swede.
3. Liverpool in need of consistency
“Fill it with life,” were the words Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp used as he called upon his players to give a performance worthy of the new revamped Anfield.
The Reds have been blowing hot and cold under the German this season, and indeed, since he took over 11 months ago — often following up hugely-exciting displays with under-par performances.
Against current champions Leicester, struggling badly to hit the height of last season, Liverpool turned on the style with a comprehensive win. The £30 million they paid Southampton for Sadio Mane is increasingly looking like money well-spent, while Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge were all superb in attack.
They remain unconvincing in defence at times, as Lucas Leiva’s horrible mistake to allow Jamie Vardy in to score exemplified, but if Klopp can find a level of consistency they would be a force to be reckoned with.
4. Stoke appear to be in a spot of bother
Mark Hughes was perhaps hoping today would be the day that his Stoke team was going to drag themselves off the foot of the table with a first win of the season, but it didn’t quite pan out that way.
The Potters, who have a single point to their name so far, hosted Tottenham this afternoon and things went from bad for worse for the home side as Spurs scored four unanswered goals after Hughes was sent to the stands for reacting angrily to a couple of decisions by referee Anthony Taylor.
In truth, it was always going to be tough on Stoke as they were up against a Tottenham side who appeared to be getting back to the form that saw them challenge Leicester for the title last season before slipping away in the final weeks.
It is still very early days and you would expect Stoke to get out of this mess, but with many of the lower-ranked Premier League clubs spending big over the summer, life in the bottom half could be more competitive than ever.
5. Arsenal leave it late
After dropping points in their first home game of the new campaign in the 4-3 loss to Liverpool last month, it was important that Arsenal showed improvements when Southampton visited the Emirates earlier today.
But, after Laurent Koscielny’s overhead kick cancelled out a Petr Cech own-goal, it looked as though the well-organised Saints would be coming away with a well-earned draw.
That was until referee Robbie Madley contentiously pointed to the spot after a tussle between Jose Fonte and Olivier Giroud, before Santi Cazorla struck home the winning penalty. Southampton boss Claude Puel was left fuming with the decision, while Wenger, as he so often has done over the years, claimed he didn’t see it.
“Honestly, everyone is telling me it was a penalty, but I’ve not yet seen it again,” remarked the Frenchman.
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