Man City 2 Sheff Utd 0
Pep Guardiola’s side faced Sheff Utd at the Etihad Stadium, looking to continue their winning ways to make ground on the sides at the top of the table. The Blades are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and all they are finding easy in their return to the top-flight is conceding goals.
Man City posed for photos before the game in front of their five trophies they had won in 2023. It has been some year for Pep Guardiola’s side and they deserved the plaudits for their achievement in collating all that silverware.
The hosts did not take much time in asserting their dominance in this game as Rodri picked the ball up from Foden and burst forward. With the Sheff Utd players backing off him, the Spaniard toe-poked it past Foderingham to give City the lead.
Foden was pulling the strings for City and slotted it into Bernardo Silva who looked to shoot from a tight angle. Foderingham managed to get an outstretched hand to it, to tip the shot wide of the post. He would need to be in good form today to keep his side in this game.
Credit: @premierleague
Akanji was forced to make a good block as Osula tried to convert a cross. From the resulting corner, the Sheff Utd striker got his head to the cross, forcing a decent save from Ederson as he got down well to save the effort.
Blades’ boss Chris Wilder played in the last Sheff Utd team to win at Man City. Judging by the aged-face we see today that win came between the last two world wars and not many could see this feat being replicated today by his side.
Foden brilliantly controlled a long ball in the second half, to take it in one movement around Foderingham. Sadly the ball seemed to get caught under his feet and he could not adjust quickly enough to slot the ball home.
Bobb fed it to the City playmaker soon after and he spotted the run of Alvarez at the far post. Foden picked him out brilliantly and it was one of the easiest finishes the Argentine attacker will have in his football career to score a goal.
Man City fans had their biggest present this Christmas as Kevin De Bruyne took to the sidelines to warm up, which sent the home faithful wild. He could have a big part to play in their attempts to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title.
The hosts continued to apply pressure to the visitors’ goal without causing Foderingham to do anything special to keep them out. At this stage of the game, Pep Guardiola was happy for his side to go through the motions and keep a clean sheet in the process.
Credit: @ManCity
He did not want to see a repeat of the debacle against Crystal Palace at home where his side threw away a two-goal lead late on to end up sharing the points. City held on for the win and moved to within two points of league leaders Liverpool.
Sheff Utd’s hopes of remaining a Premier League side get slimmer game by game but there is still plenty of time for them to change their fortunes. They will need to invest in their squad in the transfer window but it could be money well spent if they stay up.
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