Not on this day. Indeed, the effects of manager Pep Guardiola on City and Jose Mourinho on United were clear. Guardiola's tactics and approach had City completely in controlย in the first half, and goals from Kevin De Bruyneโwho was the best player on the pitch all afternoonโandย Kelechi Iheanacho had City in control.ย
But ironically, it was a gaffe from goalkeeper Claudio Bravoโbrought to City at the expense of Joe Hart, loaned to Torinoโthat gave United life late in the first half. His inability to secure the ball far from his net gave striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic an empty goal to volley home.ย Ibrahimovic has never been one to miss those opportunities.ย
In the second half, Mourinho countered Guardiola's tactics to great effect, subbing off the ineffectualย Henrikh Mkhitaryanย and Jesse Lingard for Ander Herrera and Marcus Rashford. The former brought some organization to the midfield, as Paul Pogba andย Marouane Fellainiย never seem settled in the first half. The latter provided a dynamic threat down the left, making another case for himself as a must-start talent.
But City held, showing a bit of grit to go along with their finesse and incisive touch. It was an impressive three points for the Citizens, who remain perfect under Guardiola. After the match, however, Mourinho was left lamenting his side's weak opening half, per BBC Sport:
"The two halves were completelyย different. In the first half, we were belowย the level to play this match.ย You haveย to be completely ready in terms of the speed of your thinking and decisionย making.ย We had a few players who were notย at thatย levelโwe lost easy balls and let them recoverย the ball. We paid for ourย mistakes.ย The second half was completelyย different. We were aย team that had the courage and honesty and dignity to chase with pride, the result which I think we deservedโwe deserved a goal in the secondย half.
"
Only soccer can be so cruel. What is deserved often goes unrealized. The team that appears to play better often doesn't win. Goals are fickle consorts. On Saturday, City's first half and United's second made each a worthy victor. A draw would have been just. Alas, it was City that drew first blood.
While the Manchester Derby featured two clubs with legitimate title hopes, last year's champions, Leicester City, continued to struggle and lost 4-1 at Anfield against Liverpool. The Reds once again featured a scintillating attack and played well in the back four, save a horrid giveaway from Lucas Leiva that led to Leicester's lone goal.
The Reds were excellent going forward and deadly on the break.ย Roberto Firmino notched a brace, Sadio Mane added another goal and Adam Lallana got on the board for the Reds. If Liverpool can defend as well as they attack, they'll be in the running for a top-four finish at the very least.
Leicester, meanwhile, looked like a team still hungover from all of the champagne they drank in spring. Passes that might have sprung breakaways weren't weighted properly. Defenders were broken down in one-on-one situations. A team that was never outworked a season ago seemed lethargic at times compared to Liverpool's bright form.ย
Four points from four games is not the start Leicester would have wanted. Of course, after last season's historical finish, it's hard to find fault with anything the club might accomplish this year. They've earned the right to be a bit hungover.
Arsenal seemed to be nursing a hangover themselves for a decent chunk of the first half against Southampton. The Gunners fell behind 1-0 before recovering to win 2-1 on a penalty conversionย fromย Santiย Cazorlaย in second-half stoppage time. A somewhat controversial penalty call gave the Gunners the late reprieve, though replays clearly showed a Southampton defender gripping a fistful of Olivier Giroud's kit and dragging him to the ground.
Arsenal will surely take the win, and there were bright spots for the club, namely Laurentย Koscielny's ridiculous, bicycle-kick equaliser.ย Shkodran Mustafiย played well in central defense in his debut, while Cazorla was the team's key man throughout. The Gunners controlled the game in the second half, even if many of their chances went unfinished.
The Gunners still feel like a team feeling out their identity early in the season. Some of that on Saturday may have derived from Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez starting on the bench, or Francis Coquelin getting the nod in the midfield over new manย Granit Xhaka. But Arsenal also struggled to get Theo Walcott or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain involved on the flanks, while new striker Lucas Perez failed to make a mark in his debut.
The Gunners have the talent in place to make a title run. Mesut Ozil and Cazorla give the team a pair of midfielders capable of controlling matches, while they bolstered their defense and the striker position in the transfer market. Early in the campaign, however, Arsenal have been anything but convincing.ย
Matchday 4 will continue on Sunday, with Chelsea looking to remain undefeated against Swansea City.ย Everton will face Sunderland on Monday.ย
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