Manchester City cut the gap between themselves and league leaders Liverpool with a 2-0 victory against Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon.
Rodri opened the scoring for the hosts with just 14 minutes on the clock, but the Cityzens were unable to double their advantage in the first half. However, the Blades could only hold out until the hour mark, Julian Alvarez grabbing a second to wrap up all three points.
The result moves Man City level on points with Arsenal before the Gunners’ clash with Fulham on New Year’s Eve and just two points off Liverpool.
How the game unfolded
Unsurprisingly, Man City were the side that dominated early proceedings, Phil Foden’s neat flick setting up Alvarez for the first shot of the game just two minutes in. Despite some brief forays forward from Sheffield United, it was indeed the newly crowned world champions that took the lead with less than a quarter of an hour played.
Manuel Akanji fired a pass into Foden, the Englishman’s touch falling into the path of Rodri. The holding midfielder delicately dinked it over the outstretched leg of a defender before poking the ball beyond Wes Foderingham from the edge of the area for his fourth league goal of the season.
Man City continued to pass Sheffield United to death but Bernardo Silva’s shot from a tight angle was the closest they came to doubling their lead in the first half.
The Blades could have levelled before the break. William Osula spurned a wonderful chance following Jayden Bogle’s excellent cross and the Dane then saw his header comfortably saved from the subsequent corner, while Bogle tested Ederson himself with a left-footed effort just before half-time.
Man City picked up from where they left off in the first half in terms of their domination of territory, Foden almost grabbing an early second. The Englishman was sent through on goal but couldn’t quite round goalkeeper Foderingham, with Alvarez firing over just a minute later inside the box.
Alvarez would atone for his previous miss shortly afterwards, tapping home from Foden’s precise ball across the face of goal. Substitute Oscar Bobb helped create the second with a delightful threaded pass, and with an hour played, the game looked beyond the reach of the Blades.
City’s Argentine forward almost grabbed a fortuitous third for the hosts, charging down Foderingham’s clearance and watching the ball fly just beyond the post. However, Pep Guardiola’s side couldn’t add more gloss to the scoreline in the dying embers of the…
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