Manchester United have a mountain to climb in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final after a 3-1 defeat to rivals City at Old Trafford.
It was United’s visitors who caught the eye first in the Manchester derby before a ball had even been kicked, with Pep Guardiola opting to rest both Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Agüero – instead starting Bernardo Silva out of position.
Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva playing as strikers when we have a fully-fit Sergio and Gabriel Jesus….
— . (@CrossingTheBall) January 7, 2020
Peps conned us all! We all thought Sterling was playing centre forward…instead it’s Bernardo Silva!
— City ’til I Cry! (@tomritchiemcfc) January 7, 2020
Is Bernardo silva playing False 9 ??
— General CP (@CPmunroe) January 7, 2020
When the match finally got underway, it was Manchester United who opened up the first real chance of the game through Marcus Rashford, but the England international’s low cross was cleared by Fernandinho.
When City finally ventured forward after a quarter of an hour, Bernardo Silva produced a moment of magic that opened the scoring in the cup semi-final.
The Portugal international was invited to shoot after being given time and space on his stronger left foot from the edge of the area, and Silva picked out the top corner of David de Gea’s net with a stunning strike that went in off the underside of the bar.
Bernardo Silva has scored an absolute madness against De Gea.
Adrian would’ve saved it though.
— – (@AnfieldRd96) January 7, 2020
Always best to invite Bernardo Silva inside and onto his left peg.
— Mike Keegan (@MikeKeegan_DM) January 7, 2020
The best Portuguese player on Earth scores a cracker at Old Trafford.
Bernardo Silva everybody. #MUNMCI
— Mazi Marvin the Paranoid Android (@Boboye_Ak) January 7, 2020
Stonker of a goal from Bernardo Silva. Delightful footballer.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 7, 2020
You can’t blame anyone for that Bernardo Silva goal. Fred should’ve been closer to him though.
Special goal even when United haven’t been too bad at all.
— Kaustubh Pandey (@Kaus_Pandey17) January 7, 2020
City took control of the match after Silva’s opener and they doubled their lead soon after Riyad Mahrez broke away on the counter-attack.
The Algerian waltzed past David de Gea and tapped the ball into the back of an empty net from inside the penalty area, putting the visitors firmly in control as they looked to get the two-legged tie wrapped up at Old Trafford.
De Gea could not have made it any easier for Mahrez to round him there. #MUNMCI
— Ryan Glynn (@ryanglynn86) January 7, 2020
City on the counter…de Bruyne to Mahrez…rounds keeper…0-2. Too easy. United struggling to cope with City tactics of having no centre forward..#MUNMCI #manutd #mufc #mcfc
— #MUNMCI (@MUNMCI) January 7, 2020
Goodbye Phil Jones, Kevin de Bruyne just finally ended your Manchester United career
— Scott Saunders (@_scottsaunders) January 7, 2020
City’s two-goal lead quickly became three after a moment of magic from De Bruyne on the edge of the area to open up space in behind United’s defence.
The Belgium international’s initial shot was saved by de Gea, but the loose ball rebounded off a helpless Andreas Pereira and into the back of the net – rounding off an awful first-half for the hosts.
Pereira scores an own goal??? Doesn’t count. Still 0-2
— KQ (@Khalidalque) January 7, 2020
Pereira finished off that own goal like he really meant to do it
— フレッド Fred*Rick (@TheRickFred) January 7, 2020
Andreas Pereira’s own goal had more direction than the whole Manchester United team. #MUNMCI
— Benaiah ✨ (@kwamebenaiah) January 7, 2020
The game was only going in one direction.
But United showed they still had some life left in them when Marcus Rashford raced onto the end of a through ball from Mason Greenwood.
The England international’s touch took him away from Nicolás Otamendi and Rashford picked out the bottom corner of Claudio Bravo’s net – offering some hope that United would at least avoid total humiliation in the Manchester derby.
Marcus Rashford though. If there’s been one success story this season it’s him. Proven he can be an out and out goalscorer and against anyone. #MUNMCI #MUFC #CarabaoCup
— Luke Gardener (@LukeGardener82) January 7, 2020
Marcus Rashford has now been involved in nine goals in his last six League Cup appearances (6 goals, 3 assists). Remarkable how many he has this season given the dire service from behind #mufc
— Rich Fay (@RichFay) January 7, 2020
Marcus Rashford is really carrying what ever is left of Manchester United at 22 years old. Deserves respect.
— Kam (@Culturecams) January 7, 2020
We have got 99 problems but Marcus Rashford scoring against the big six isn’t one.
— Ugbedeojo (@Certifiedopeboi) January 7, 2020
It was a goal that offered a small glimmer of hope for Manchester United, but City held on for the win to put one foot in the Carabao Cup final already.
Both sides will meet again at Etihad Stadium on January 29, but Solskjaer’s side will desperately need to improve if they want to stand any chance of overturning their two-goal deficit and a shot at winning some silverware this season.
But before the second leg, here’s what the reaction to the game at Old Trafford was like on social media.
Solskjaer’s survived many bad losses as United manager – but getting annihilated at home by City is surely the end?
This is humiliating.— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 7, 2020
Manchester United 1-0 Manchester City (last 45 minutes)
— Scott Saunders (@_scottsaunders) January 7, 2020
The fact that only ended 3-1 should not mask how bad that was for United. It says it all that City do not even feel the need to go and batter their local rivals any more, and that United should be grateful for them slackening off.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) January 7, 2020
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deserves the blame for the loss. The team selection and the approach was awful, he wanted Manchester United to be naive and open in the 1st half and they got punished by conceding 3 goals.
Manchester City wins well deserved tonight and could score way more.
— Jonnis Aden (@HalaDeMadrid) January 7, 2020
Didn’t realise the Carabao Cup semi final was over two legs. We get to enjoy United getting humiliated again.
— Not a football account (@1886_blog) January 7, 2020