Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United: Player Ratings

Manchester United spoiled the party for their noisy neighbours
Manchester United spoiled the party for their noisy
neighbours

Goalscorers: Vincent Kompany 25', Ilkay Gundogan 30'; Paul Pogba 53', 55', Chris Smalling 69'

Manchester United scripted one of the comebacks of the season when they overturned a 2-0 first-half deficit to emerge victorious at the Etihad Stadium during the Manchester derby. City responded to the setback against Liverpool during midweek in some fashion and went 2-0 ahead within the first 30 minutes, thanks to goals from Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan.

However, United clawed their way back into the game on the back of a quickfire double from Paul Pogba, who was at his destructive best on the night. Chris Smalling grabbed the winner in the 69th minute to prevent City from lifting the title at their own backyard but it only seems a matter of when, thanks to their 13-point lead at the top of the table.

Without further delay, let's take a closer look at how the players from both sides fared during the Manchester derby:


Manchester City

Manchester City will be disappointed after throwing the game away
Manchester City will be disappointed after throwing the game away

Ederson - 6/10

The Brazilian couldn't have done a lot to keep out the goals he conceded on the night and the fact that United put three past him makes it look like he had a poor outing. Ederson's distribution was flawless and it continues to create problems for the opposition.

Danilo - 6/10

Danilo acted as the ideal replacement for Kyle Walker in the first half and managed to keep Alexis Sanchez at bay for quite some time. However, he was part of the collective (non)effort that allowed United to get back into the game and then win it.

Vincent Kompany - 6/10

It almost seemed like Kompany was heading for the perfect night after he put the hosts ahead with a thumping header. The Belgian was colossal in the air all night but he was caught out in the second half thanks to United's determination and hunger.

Nicolas Otamendi - 5/10

The Argentine had a solid first half but everything went awry shortly after the restart from half-time and he struggled to keep their lead intact. Otamendi failed to win a single tackle in the match.

Fabian Delph - 6/10

Delph returned to the line-up and did a relatively good job in the first half, just like his teammates. The Englishman offered very little after the restart and was part of a defence that went haywire and threw the lead away.

Ilkay Gundogan - 7/10

Brilliant first half after that horror show during midweek against Liverpool and he proved his doubters wrong with a well-taken goal. Despite forming a formidable partnership with Fernandinho in the middle, Gundogan struggled in the second half before being taken off.

Fernandinho - 7/10

Fernandinho was arguably one of City's best players on the night and anchored the midfield in typical fashion in the first half. The Brazilian helped out his teammates with a number of timely interceptions but lost his head at times in the second half as United started mounting the pressure on the hosts.

David Silva - 7.5/10

The Spaniard dominated the first half with his slick passing and clever movement and continues to impress for Guardiola's men. Silva is simply mesmeric and a huge asset to have on your team but he could do very little to prevent the United comeback.

Bernardo Silva - 6/10

Silva was forced to drift wide on numerous occasions to try and stretch the play but the player had little say in the game. The Portuguese would feel that he squandered a glorious chance in the first half when his tame effort failed to cause De Gea any problems whatsoever.

Raheem Sterling - 5/10

Sterling failed to make the most of his opportunities
Sterling failed to make the most of his opportunities

Sterling provided the assist for City's second goal on the night but what stood out in particular was the two shots he scuffed in the first half. It could have been a different story if one of them had gone in and he probably is still thinking about it.

Leroy Sane - 6/10

Dangerous as always in the first half when City were at their destructive best. The winger created a few problems to the visitors with his pace but his second half display was a little naive and lacked any end product.


Substitutes

Kevin De Bruyne - 5/10

De Bruyne replaced Silva in the 72nd minute but he failed to stamp his authority on the game.

Gabriel Jesus - 4/10

Jesus came on for Bernardo Silva but he lacked his usual instinct infront of goal and was seen as a frustrated figure till the end of the game.

Sergio Aguero - 6/10

Aguero, who replaced Gundogan in the 76th minute, was Guardiola's most effective substitute on the night and nearly pulled things back for City with a header, only for De Gea to pull off a stunning save to deny the Argentine.

Manchester United

The comeback kings of England have done it again
The comeback kings of England have done it again

David De Gea - 7/10

De Gea made an unlikely error in the first half when his woeful clearance fell straight to Sane during the build-up to City's second goal on the night. However, his stunning save to keep out Aguero's header in the dying minutes ensured that he retained his status as one of United's match-winners.

Antonio Valencia - 6/10

The Ecuadorian struggled to contain the threat from Sane in the first half and it was his miscued clearance that gave the corner to City which led to the opening goal. Valencia responded strongly in the second half and acted as a good outlet on the right side.

Eric Bailly - 6/10

Bailly had a wobbly start to the game in the first half and struggled during the opening stages of the game. However, he found his composure in the second half and did well to protect his side's lead.

Chris Smalling - 7/10

Smalling completely lost Kompany during the build-up to City's opening goal and had a torrid first half, to say the least. The Englishman made amends in some fashion when he scored the winner in the 69th minute to become an unlikely hero for the Red Devils.

Ashley Young - 5/10

Probably the luckiest player on the pitch and he looked clumsy against the pace and directness offered by the likes of Sterling and Silva in the first half. Young should have conceded a penalty towards the end of the game for a horrific over the top challenge on Aguero.

Nemanja Matic - 6/10

The Serbian had a tough start to the game and was often caught out of position in the first half. Matic responded well in the second half and helped United claw their way back into the game with his composed display on and off the ball.

Ander Herrera - 7/10

Herrera started the game well and was United's best player in the first half. Despite enjoying a relatively smoother start to the game, he failed to prevent City from scoring twice in the space of five minutes. In the second half, he was at his influential best and set-up Pogba with an expertly weighted chest-down for United to get back into the match.

Paul Pogba - 9/10

Pogba silenced his critics with a match-winning performance
Pogba silenced his critics with a match-winning performance

All that talk about how he could have lined up for City if Guardiola had made that call and it almost seemed like City dodged a bullet when Pogba struggled to find his rhythm in the first half. However, the runaway leaders didn't know what hit them in the second half as Pogba stunned the Etihad with a quick-fire double to swing the tie in United's favour.

Jesse Lingard - 6/10

Lingard remained anonymous in the first half but his commitment to the cause is unmatched as he worked tirelessly throughout the game. The England international was the most fouled player on the night and was involved whenever the derby threatened to boil over.

Romelu Lukaku - 7/10

The Belgian was isolated up front for United in the first half and he failed to register a single shot on goal during the same. Lukaku offered some neat link-up play in the second half and did well to hold the ball up for his teammates.

Alexis Sanchez - 8/10

That was probably Sanchez's best game in a United shirt so far and he picked a mercurial fixture like the derby to make a mark for his new side. The Chilean was signed up by Jose Mourinho for games like these and he repaid his manager's faith with two important assists in the second half.


Substitutes

Marcus Rashford - N/A

Rashford replaced Sanchez in the 82nd minute and was provided with too little time to make an impact.

Scott McTominay - N/A

McTominay replaced Lingard in the 85th minute and was provided just about 10 minutes of playing time as United tried to tighten the grip on their lead in the dying stages of the game.

Victor Lindelof - N/A

Lindelof replaced Herrera during second half stoppage time in a bid to preserve United's lead and he was successful in the same.

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