Old Trafford loss sees Manchester City 14 points behind Liverpool

Manchester City’s gap to leaders and title rivals, Liverpool, opened to 14 points today with 2-1 loss in the Manchester Derby.

Manchester United started the game brightly racking up plenty of first-half shots on the Manchester City goal, before Bernardo Silva stepped across a Marcus Rashford run into the City box, taking down the Englishman with VAR awarding a penalty.

Rashford outwaited Ederson to dispatch the spot kick, and just nine minutes later, United had their lead doubled through Anthony Martial.

©Getty / Michael Regan

The Frenchman found space in City’s box from a Daniel James pass and flashed a shot to the near post which Ederson poorly allowed past him.

Manchester City had multiple penalty appeals turned down with shots and crosses hitting United limbs, but referee Anthony Taylor denied each, adding even more confusion to the Premier League’s updated handball rules.

The game stepped up a level though with five minutes to play, when Nicolas Otamendi, on for the injured John Stones, headed in Bernardo Silva’s corner. But United held on to secure a win that moves them up to fifth, and leaves City 14 points short of leaders Liverpool.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær also improved his record against the traditional top six, with the third best record of all teams since he took the helm and Old Trafford.

Table of meetings between the 'Big Six' since Ole Gunnar Solskjær replaced José Mourinho as Manchester United boss:

1⃣: Liverpool: 23
2⃣: Man City: 19
3⃣: 🔥MAN UTD: 16🔥
4⃣: Arsenal: 9
5⃣: Chelsea: 4
6⃣: Tottenham: 3#MUFC pic.twitter.com/jgIBB1xQbk

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) December 7, 2019