Marcus Rashford is playing a needed season with Manchester United. © APA/afp / DARREN STAPLES

Topsy-turvy world in Manchester: City top, United flop

Manchester City completed their weakest first half of the season in terms of points under coach Pep Guardiola with a 2-0 home win against bottom side Sheffield United.

30 December 2023

From: apa

With 40 points from 19 rounds, the defending champions in the English Premier League are two points behind Liverpool. The league leaders will not face Newcastle United until New Year's Day, but will then have played one more game than the club world champions. Manchester United lost 1-2 at Nottingham Forest.

Aston Villa kept pace with the Capazunders with a late 3-2 win against a decimated Burnley. Coach Unai Emery's team is level on points with Liverpool, but has played one game more. Douglas Luiz scored the decisive penalty from the underside of the crossbar (89'). Arsenal could move past them by a point with a win at Fulham on Sunday.

United still in crisis

In Manchester, Rodri made it 1-0 early with an individual action (14th) and Argentinian world champion Julian Alvarez made the final score (60th) after a nice combination. Phil Foden assisted on both goals. Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne was back on the bench for the first time after tearing his thigh muscle. Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku were still missing.

Rodri is back on track with Manchester City. © APA/afp / OLI SCARFF

Meanwhile, things are still going wrong at city rivals United. In Nottingham, coach Erik ten Hag's team fell behind after just over an hour due to a goal from Nicolas Dominguez (64th). Although the Red Devils managed to equalize through Marcus Rashford (78th), Morgan Gibbs-White (82nd) ​​finally made the hosts celebrate with a perfectly completed counterattack. United are still struggling with 31 points and currently in seventh place.