Match Report: Manchester City vs Sheffield United
Manchester City delivered a dominant performance to defeat Sheffield United at the Etihad Stadium, moving them within striking distance of league leaders Liverpool. Goals from Rodri and Julian Alvarez in each half secured City’s first consecutive wins since early November.
Pep Guardiola’s side, making two changes from their recent victory at Everton, saw Josko Gvardiol step in for the injured John Stones, and Mateo Kovacic replace Matheus Nunes. Kevin De Bruyne, returning from injury, started on the bench.
Chris Wilder, aiming to rebound from Sheffield United’s loss to Luton Town, made five changes. This saw the likes of Jayden Bogle, Oliver Norwood, Luke Thomas, Anis Ben Slimane, and William Osula stepping in.
City asserted their dominance early, with Rodri breaking through Sheffield’s midfield to score a spectacular long-range goal in the 14th minute, marking his second goal against Sheffield this season.
While opportunities were scarce for Sheffield, William Osula did manage a half-chance, only to be thwarted by a block from City’s Manuel Akanji.
The game was effectively sealed in City’s favor in the 61st minute when Julian Alvarez capitalized on Phil Foden’s setup, scoring from close range. This goal marked Alvarez’s fourth in his last three matches across all competitions.
Sheffield United struggled to challenge City’s defense, managing only four shots throughout the match. This defeat leaves them languishing at the bottom of the table with just nine points from 20 matches.
Manchester City’s victory exemplifies their ability to control games and utilize their depth effectively. The return of key players like De Bruyne and the consistent performances from newer recruits like Alvarez highlight the team’s robust composition.
Sheffield United, on the other hand, continues to grapple with form and consistency issues. Their inability to create substantial opportunities against top-tier teams like City underscores the challenges they face in their fight for Premier League survival.
