Manchester City vs Manchester United: 5 Talking Points

#1 Paul Pogba is Manchester United's most important player

The French Connection could have made a difference tonight but it was not to be

Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford make up an exciting front 3. But Lingard, who only recently returned from injury looked off the pace and was, at one point, outrun by Fernandinho who has got 8 years on him.

Behind that backline, however, was the nearly static Fellaini and Matic. Ander Herrera had a shocker. He gave away possession far too easily and his passing was all over the place. Nemanja Matic had a shaky outing and he was clearly at fault for the goal that took the game away from Manchester United.

Marouane Fellaini put in a good shift but his attacking game leaves a lot to be desired. In the absence of Paul Pogba, Manchester United hardly ever looked like a threat on the counter. Without his passing and movement, the Red Devils are over-reliant on the pace of Marcus Rashford and Martial who always end up being isolated on either side of the pitch.

Martial's goalscoring form continues although the goal came from the spot and he wasn't at his best. But it's important that he got the goal as that will keep his confidence up.

5 - Anthony Martial is just the fifth French player to score in five consecutive @premierleague appearances, after Thierry Henry (x3), Eric Cantona, Nicolas Anelka and Olivier Giroud. Cinq. #MUNMCI

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 11, 2018

But the most important talking point from the game is that over the course of 90 minutes, it became more and more evident that Paul Pogba is Manchester United's most important player and they need to make him stay at Old Trafford by hook, line or sinker.