Manchester City scored an excellent team goal to seal a deserved derby victory over Manchester United and return to the top of the league table.
Manchester City returned to the Premier League summit with a convincing derby victory over Manchester United at Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side were seeking the result they needed to go back to the top of the table after Liverpool’s lunchtime win over Fulham at Anfield – and it was rarely in doubt after David Silva bundled home an early goal to give them a narrow interval advantage.
City got the second goal their superiority deserved with Sergio Aguero’s rasping, rising finish past David de Gea three minutes into the second half following an exchange of passes with Riyad Mahrez.
Jose Mourinho’s side, without injured Paul Pogba, barely mounted a serious threat but were given hope of earning an unlikely point just before the hour when Romelu Lukaku was hauled down by Ederson seconds after he had come on as substitute. Anthony Martial sent the Brazilian the wrong way from the spot.
It briefly revived memories of last season’s dramatic derby here when United came from two goals down to win, but City never looked like losing control and wrapped up the win two minutes from time when substitute Ilkay Gundogan took advantage of static United defending to beat De Gea from close range following a 44-pass move.
Ilkay Gundogan finished off a superb passing move late in the game after he poked home Bernardo Silva’s cross from a few yards out.
David Silva had given City the lead after 12 minutes before Sergio Aguero made it 2-0 shortly after the break.
United’s Anthony Martial scored from the spot but City deserved the win.
City now sit 12 points ahead of eighth-placed United, while they lead second-placed Liverpool by two points.
READ: Barcelona lose seven-goal thriller Real Betis
Who can stop rampant Man City?
Manchester City’s answer to Liverpool briefly returning to the head of the Premier League table was emphatic as this win was a comfortable as the scoreline suggests, arguably even more so.
Liverpool and Chelsea remain unbeaten in the Premier League, although Maurizio Sarri’s side slipped as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Everton at Stamford Bridge.
They remain very much in the title shake-up, as do fourth-placed Tottenham.
The problem for the chasing pack appears to be that Manchester City are currently operating on a different level to everyone else.
United were probably feeling pleased with themselves that somehow, despite barely laying a glove on City, they were actually still in contention for a point until Gundogan’s late goal ended all the arguments.
And it was a goal that summed up City under Guardiola.
The finish looked simple enough as Gundogan slipped in past some static United defenders to score with ease but it crowned a 44-pass sequence, the most before a goal since Juan Mata scored for Manchester United against Queens Park Rangers in September 2015.
City are two points clear of Liverpool but have a goal difference of +31 as opposed to +18 and this was another of their most difficult fixtures negotiated with their usual flair.
