Marcus Rashford scored in a seventh successive game as Manchester United overturned a 1-0 deficit to beat champions Manchester City 2-1, but it was a controversial turnaround in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
After a cagey first half, Jack Grealish‘s opener looked to have set City on course for a Premier League win against United.
But Bruno Fernandes‘ equaliser — tucking home with Rashford clearly offside next to him — levelled the scores and Rashford’s winner four minutes later sealed a huge win for the home side. But the dust will not settle on this one for some time.
Rapid reaction
1. United in the title race after controversial win over City
Man United are now in the Premier League title race after fighting back from a goal down against City to move within six points of leaders Arsenal — whom they play a week on Sunday at the Emirates.
In one of the most dramatic Manchester derbies in recent times, United’s failure to capitalise on a number of first-half chances looked to have cost them dearly when substitute Grealish headed City into the lead from a Kevin De Bruyne cross on 60 minutes.
But a controversial equaliser by Fernandes on 78 minutes put United back in the game and sparked anger within the City ranks. With Rashford clearly offside when the ball was played down the middle, the United forward charged through but left the ball for Fernandes to score from 20 yards and the offside flag was raised. But referee Stuart Attwell overruled his assistant because Rashford, while appearing to interfere with play next to his teammate, did not actually touch the ball.
Four minutes later, Rashford then added insult to injury as he took his post-World Cup tally to eight goals in seven games by scoring the winner from close range.
It was an incredible finish and, after holding out to win the game, United now move to within a point of champions City, while Erik ten Hag’s team know that a win at the Emirates next week will put them firmly in the title race. United are the only team to beat Arsenal this season, winning 3-2 at Old Trafford earlier in the campaign.
Having lost 6-3 at City in October, United have bounced back impressively under Ten Hag and this performance was a sign of their incredible progress under the former Ajax coach.
In turn, City’s defeat highlighted concerns for Pep Guardiola’s team. This was their second straight loss following a shock Carabao Cup defeat at Southampton in midweek and they now face a battle to avoid finishing below United in the league for the first time since 2013.
2. Guardiola needs to fix away-day bluntness
Manchester City have an incredible array of attacking talent, but Guardiola will be concerned about their lack of a cutting edge away from home. It cost them the points in this game.
Grealish’s header against United was only City’s sixth goal in their last eight games in all competitions and half of those came in a 3-1 win at Leeds last month.
One theory in the game about City’s comparative bluntness away from home is that teams have worked out that most of the threat comes from Erling Haaland, so the objective becomes all about stopping the Norway international and cutting off his supply line. And that approach has worked. Haaland scored twice against Leeds at Elland Road, but those goals were his first away from home since September.
The former Borussia Dortmund forward was quiet against United to the point of being anonymous. And although United were always wary of the threat he posed, they knew that City don’t attack in the same wave-after-wave fashion that they once did under Guardiola.
The breakthrough only came when Kevin De Bruyne burst into the penalty area and crossed to the far post for Grealish to score on 60 minutes.
If City are to catch Arsenal at the top of the table, they will have to sharpen up and score more goals away from home because they are in danger of losing touch at the top.
3. Martial running out of chances at United
Anthony Martial lasted just 45 minutes of this game and it’s fair to say that the United forward will not have too much to look back on when he remembers this derby.
The 27-year-old started as a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation and contributed nothing beyond straying offside too often and angering the home supporters when he failed to press City goalkeeper Ederson when the Brazil international was allowed time and space to clear the ball.
Martial has been one of the great survivors at United since arriving from Monaco in August 2015, but many would suggest he is still living off the memories of a stunning debut goal against Liverpool a month later.
Since then, he has been a frustrating performer, consistently failing to live up to his potential and both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tried and failed to offload him during their spells as United manager.
Martial is now in his eighth season at Old Trafford, but his performance against City underlined the belief that his days are now numbered under Erik ten Hag.
The loan signing of Wout Weghorst will put pressure on Martial for his place in the team, while in the long term, United are already planning to sign a world-class centre-forward in the summer. But with just three league goals so far this season, it is clear the Martial isn’t up to requirements at United and his woeful performance against City proved it.
