Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City: Key talking points as Erik ten Hang's side mount stunning return to Old Trafford

With all eyes across the Premier League on Old Trafford, Manchester United staged a stunning late comeback as they secured a 2-1 win on Saturday lunchtime.

Despite trailing 1-0 as Jack Grealish opened the scoring 15 minutes after the break, Erik ten Hag's side put in another superb post-World Cup performance on home soil.

With the fiery Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes scoring United's two late goals in the space of just four minutes, the Red Devils now find themselves firmly seated in pole position to secure a Champions League return.< /p>

As well as expanding their leeway in the race for the top four, the hosts on Saturday also dealt a blow to their bitter local rivals.

With the reigning Premier League champions enduring a nightmarish domestic week, Manchester City know they could once again finish the weekend eight points behind Arsenal.

In what was a true second-half thriller from Old Trafford, we took a look at the main talking points.

A crucial blow for City

While it should be Manchester United's remarkable late comeback that is set to grab the headlines on Saturday afternoon, it will be City's public slip-up that will command the most attention.

Shockingly crashing out of the EFL Cup earlier in the week after a 2-0 defeat at Southampton, Pep Guardiola was calling on his superstars to find an immediate boost here.

However, suffering a nightmarish meltdown and appearing to struggle with his consistency since returning from the World Cup break, the former Barcelona boss knows his side will face a real uphill struggle in 2023.< /p>

Showing prolonged attacking problems away from the Etihad this season, City also gave Arsenal a golden chance to expand their buffer on the chasing pack on Sunday afternoon.

With Erling Haaland's record making another blank at Old Trafford and not causing much harm to David de Gea's goal, the Sky Blues will be desperate for a favor from Tottenham in 24 hours.

Erik is the man

While Manchester United may have opened the 2022/23 campaign with back-to-back Premier League defeats, the Red Devils have enjoyed a meteoric rise since finding their feet under ten Hag.

Heading into the World Cup break with a 2-1 win at Fulham at Fulham, the former Ajax manager has only seen his side continue to shine since returning from England. festive interval.

As well as booking their ticket to the EFL Cup semi-final earlier in the week following a 3-0 home win against Ligue 1 side Charlton, Saturday's hosts are now back in the mood around of Old Trafford at a frantic level.

Causing their bitter local rivals a series of second-half problems here, ten Hag have now seen their top-flight side win each of their previous nine consecutive domestic encounters in all formats.

Leaving a real marker at the weekend, it's no surprise the Red Devils are now firmly in the driver's seat to claim a return to the Champions League this season.

Who can stop Rashford?

Sending Old Trafford into overdrive and moving United two points behind their local rivals, Rashford almost epitomized the remarkable ten Hag upsurge in recent months.

With three World Cup goals as England reached the quarter-finals of last month's tournament, the 25-year-old embarked on what has been a monumental free goal run since returning from the festive break.

Truly United's front man since Cristiano Ronaldo's messy exit, Rashford has now found the net in each of his seven consecutive post-World Cup appearances.

With the hierarchy at Old Trafford top priority is tying Rashford to an exceptional long-term contract, the hometown United star has also scored eight goals in this seven-game run.

Enjoying what quickly became the most clinical spell of his young career, ten Hag was rightly showered with praise for Rashford's remarkable extended burst.

While it might have looked last season that the 51-cap international could be on the verge of leaving Manchester, United's attacking talisman is now spearheading his top four.

Match Report

Manchester United: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Shaw, Malacia, Casemiro, Fred, Fernandes, Eriksen, Rashford, Martial

Subs: Maguire, Martinez, Antony, McTominay, Garnacho

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Ake, Cancelo, Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden, Haaland, Mahrez

Subtitles: Grealish

Goals: Manchester United: Fernandes (78′), Rashford (82′) – Manchester City: Grealish (60′)

Yellow cards: Casemiro, Fred, Eriksen

Red cards: N/A

Referee: Stuart Attwell

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