Source: TheGuardian
Manchester derby: what’s gone wrong and right so far at City and United? | Jamie Jackson
Neither club are where they want to be after 15 games but both Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Pep Guardiola still have time to make the season a successLiverpool’s stellar form, a weakness in central defence and a group of players who before Tuesday’s 4-1 rout of Burnley lacked an edge are key factors for Manchester City being 11 points behind the Merseyside club. Pep Guardiola rates the midfielder Fernandinho over John Stones or Nicolás Otamendi as first-choice cover for the injured centre-back Aymeric Laporte, illuminating how the failure to acquire an A-list replacement for Vincent Kompany was a serious error. The win at Turf Moor was a reminder of how energy and effervescence from the manager’s pass-and-move play had dipped: given the deficit this has to remain until May. Related: Solskjær aims derby dig at Manchester City: ‘At least we play every year now’ Related: Manchester United show they are best without possession and expectation Continue reading......read full article
