Manchester United vs. Manchester City: 5 Things Each Team Learned in City's Win

Manchester City stamped their authority on the Premier League today with a crushing 6-1 defeat of neighbours Manchester United at Old Trafford to open up a five-point lead at the top of the league table.

In a game where more than three points is always at stake, it was the blue half of the city left delirious and dreaming with their equal-biggest ever win over their rivals, and the rest of the league—and probably even Europe—will certainly be sitting up and taking notice of Roberto Mancini's men if they weren't already.

Here are five things each team will have learnt from today's game.

Manchester United Lack Final Third Creativity

Manchester United's system of attack relies heavily on servicing quality wide men, getting players into the box and causing panic down the channels of the opposition defence.

Patrice Evra and Ashley Young down the left and a variety of players down the right, today Chris Smalling and Nani, have so far more or less been sufficient to overcome most domestic opposition as a result of their pace, relentlessness and good movement.

Today, faced by a well-drilled defence superbly marshalled by Vincent Kompany, United's wide quartet were unable to have any kind of meaningful impact on the game despite having a huge share of possession in the first half.

Without Tom Cleverley playing through the centre of midfield, United do not really have anyone else who can do something a little different in the final third—hence Wayne Rooney being asked to drop deeper against Liverpool last week and Manchester City today in the second half.

Too often the runs into the channels were closed off, nobody was able to fashion space in or around the box and the movement off the ball was predictable.

Manchester City Have the Attacking Options to Trouble Any Defence in the League

Today, it was David Silva and James Milner.

Previously, it has been Adam Johnson, Samir Nasri or Yaya Toure.

And ahead of them, Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko have already gone through great spells of goalscoring form.

Whoever Mancini picks to start games, City have the options in their squad—and from the bench—to trouble any kind of defence. Today, United had no answer to City's counter-attacks late in the game and, once City had taken the lead, to their movement and runs in behind both full-backs.

Micah Richards, playing extremely high up the field, was a constant outlet for the away side and allowed other players to have a big effect through the centre of the park.

Premier League defences must be sick at the thought of even if they get through 75 minutes of keeping David Silva quiet, they could still face someone of the quality of Samir Nasri coming fresh off the bench to finish the game.

Jonny Evans: Still Not the Real Deal

Jonny Evans has started the majority of United's league matches this season in the absence of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, but his selection today was largely met with groans of discontent from United supporters.

By his own admission, Evans was not up to scratch last season and had hoped that a better showing this time around would cement his place in the United first team, but today's performance was way below the expected level of a top-flight defender.

Slack marking allowed Balotelli the chance to score the opening goal, while a mis-kick at the other end might have sent the sides in level at half-time if he had connected properly. Barely a minute into the second period, and Evans' misery was compounded with a red card.

With Smalling at right-back and Phil Jones left on the bench, the onus was on Evans to come up with a big central defender's performance—and he fell well short.

Mario Balotelli Finally Starting to Realise His Potential

Fireworks, darts, women's prisons, police and the mob—Mario Balotelli has been involved in the lot.

On the pitch, he is just as charismatic at times; his pace and ball control is to be admired, but so often, his attitude and work-rate has let him down and prevented him from regularly starting for Inter and now Manchester City.

Mancini gave him a big vote of confidence with a starting spot today after four goals in his last four games, and Mad Mario didn't let his boss down with another decent performance and a further two strikes.

Clearly more at home through the centre than coming infield from wide positions, Balotelli is now perhaps coming to terms with having to deliver on a consistent basis for a top team.

You still perhaps get the suggestion that he wants to do better for himself than for the club—but also that he wants to be liked and admired by his teammates and manager, and perhaps for that reason moreso than anything else, Mario Balotelli is starting to look like a real top class Premier League striker who could be a huge asset for City.

Manchester United Still Need Another Central Midfielder

With the retirement of Paul Scholes and the releasing of Owen Hargreaves, Alex Ferguson has been left with four central midfielders.

Anderson partnered Darren Fletcher today in the centre of the park for United, with Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley being the other two.

Fletcher is almost a first choice for Ferguson when fit, but it is fair to say that none of the other three are really of such a top level at this moment that they could make a case for inclusion at another top side.

Certainly United will have high hopes for Cleverley, but he also has a long way to go to become a regularly dominant force against Premier League midfields. For so long, United have won games by winning the midfield battle, and though they had a lot of first half possession in midfield, they did not really do anything with it.

A top quality addition to this area of the pitch could make all the difference for United's way of playing.

James Milner Is Fast Becoming Key to City's New Attacking Intent

Not long ago derided as being forced down the pecking order with the arrivals of the likes of Aguero and Nasri, James Milner left the Old Trafford pitch today to a massive standing ovation from his own supporters having turned in a master class display.

His willing running provides a great outlet for his team in attacking situations, but he is also defensively aware enough to cover the ground going the opposite way; an absolute must in these big games, with Mancini's new preference for playing an extra attacker instead of last season's two or even three holding midfielders.

Milner was often involved in City's build-up play and sent over the crosses for both of Balotelli's goals as well as playing in Richards, who set up another goal for his team.

His versatility will be an asset too in his quest for minutes on the pitch, as he can play right the way across the City midfield.

David De Gea: A Wonderful Shot-Stopper, but Not Too Hot at Coming off His Line

Not in his wildest dreams—or nightmares—would David de Gea have imagined that his first league derby for his new team would have ended with six goals being put past him.

Now, let's not for a moment suggest they were all his fault or that he could have done much more to keep the score lower; United's defence went entirely missing in the final quarter of an hour, and he made a few decent stops to prevent the score being even higher.

But that's what de Gea has shown himself to be: a shot-stopper.

Leaving his six-yard box, however, or at times even his goal line, has proven to be quite a different matter. Still not too convincing at collecting high crosses under pressure, de Gea today suffered with one-on-one situations and low balls across the face of his six yard box.

While the close-range finishes from Balotelli and Dzeko he couldn't do too much about, perhaps the crosses he could have done. Over time and when his English improves, he will certainly be expected to order and position his defence better, especially regarding cutting out crosses, but he also lacked the confidence or perhaps decision-making ability, to cut out the low balls himself, even when they happened again and again.

When one-on-one with Dzeko and Silva running through on goal, twice de Gea was beaten for late goals, while Dzeko also blazed over the bar with the 'keeper beaten. On none of those three occasions did he quickly get far off his line to narrow the angle and make it particularly difficult for the attacker, something he will certainly have to work on.

City Players and Fans Will Have the Confidence and Belief They Can Beat Anyone

Confidence is a wonderful thing.

Get a lot of it and you can fly out the traps on any given game, believing you can outscore the opposition in the first 10 minutes.

Loose it, and even a five-yard pass or a simple 10-yard finish becomes a thing of difficulty and tension.

This huge win for City against their closest rivals and current league title holders will show them that their team has the raw ability to go and get a result against anyone if they perform to their true capabilities, and have the depth in the squad to win the league if they consistently perform to their level.

Alex Ferguson Will React, and so Will His Team

Fresh from his self-professed "worst ever day," Alex Ferguson will be furious at his team's capitulation at the hands of Manchester City.

But this is a man who has been in football a long, long time. He may not have been beaten 6-1 before by Manchester City, but he has suffered big defeats. Think 5-0 against Newcastle and 4-1, also at Old Trafford, by Liverpool.

Ferguson will get his team into gear by whatever means necessary and make sure that they are back to winning ways as quickly as possible.

A midweek cup tie against Aldershot will not provide any trouble in a couple of days, but nor will it let the first team get over the sting of this thrashing.

Everton, Sunderland and Swansea—United's next opposition in the Premier League—should all beware.

Roberto Mancini Knows His Attacking System Works, but Has to Manage Expectations

Roberto Mancini does not smile very much. In fact, he looks a little bit creepy when he does.

But he was all beams and teeth this afternoon after his side romped to victory, and with good reason.

He has built a side from his oil-rich owner's wealth, which is the envy of many throughout Europe, but more importantly, he has released them from his previously seen defensive demeanour and instead unleashed the full force of attack on the opposition.

This win over United is vindication of that change in emphasis, but it will also bring with it a swell of over-optimism from fans who will expect a similar demolition of every opponent, something which is unrealistic.

Yes, City should beat most sides. But nobody wins every game, and refereeing decisions, individual errors and injuries will all go against City at various points this season.

Mancini has to find the balance between keeping the confidence and belief flowing in his team and managing expectations, something which he is already trying to do by proclaiming United are still the better side and will be until his team wins the title.

That kind of talk is not what supporters probably want to hear today—but if it leads to an increase in concentration next time around, it will be more than worth it for Mancini and his men.