Opposite destinies on Sunday for the rival neighbors of Manchester: City enjoyed themselves against Ipswich (6-0) three days before facing Paris SG, while United fell back into their failings against Brighton (3-1).
Watch out, Manchester City is back!
The reigning four-time English champions let loose thanks in particular to Phil Foden (double), Kevin De Bruyne (three assists) and Erling Haaland (one goal), all replaced at the hour mark.
All the lights seem green for Pep Guardiola before the trip to the Parc des Princes, where he will also be able to count on Ruben Dias. The Portuguese defender, in the infirmary since mid-December, played the entire match.
“We kept possession of the ball at important moments and we defended well. This is one of our best performances this season”summarized Foden on Sky Sports.
PSG will nevertheless offer adversity much greater than that of Ipswich (18th, 16 pts), the promoted and currently relegated.
Eighth at kick-off, Manchester City moved up to fourth place in the Premier League, six points behind Nottingham Forest (3rd, 44 pts) and Arsenal (2nd, 44 pts).
THE « Reds » de Forest extended the magic of an incredible season by dominating bottom-placed Southampton (3-2) earlier on Sunday.
Tottenham adrift
The top of the table appears to be a very distant horizon now for Manchester United, thirteenth (26 pts) and for Tottenham, falling to an unworthy fifteenth place (24 pts) after a defeat at Everton (3-2).
The distress of Tottenham players following their defeat at Everton, January 19, 2025 / Paul ELLIS / AFP
Nothing is going well for the « Spurs » and their coach Ange Postecoglou, beaten for the fifth time in six Premier League matches.
The victory against Liverpool in the semi-final first leg of the League Cup, on January 8, was only a deceptive ray of sunshine in the middle of the clouds which increasingly threaten the Australian.
“I certainly haven’t lost the faith or the determination to turn things around”he said on Sky Sports.
In his defense, he was deprived of around ten players on Sunday (Vicario, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie, Bentancur…) including Dominic Solanke (knee), who was added this week to the injured list .
But his defense sank again against « Toffees » (16th, 20 pts) not known for their offensive drive: in the league, Everton had finished nine of their previous eleven matches without a goal scored.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin recovered (13th, 1-0) with his first goal since mid-September, Iliman Ndiaye added to the tally (30th, 2-0) before an own goal from the unfortunate man Archie Gray (45th+7, 3-0).
Dejan Kulusevski (77th, 3-1) and Richarlison (90th+2, 3-2) reduced the gap at the end of the match, in vain.
“Worst team in history”
Manchester United themselves could not dream of a comeback against a much superior Brighton team.
Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim in disbelief at his team’s rout against Brighton at Old Trafford, January 19, 2025 / Ian HODGSON / AFP
At Old Trafford, where the memory of former striker Denis Law (1940-2025) was honored, the faults of the « Red Devils » showed themselves in great style, whether in defense or in midfield.
Even goalkeeper André Onana, regular savior of his team, committed an incredible hand error on a harmless cross, and French striker Georgino Rutter took advantage of it to close the score (76th, 3-1).
Since the arrival of Ruben Amorim at the end of November, Manchester United have conceded almost two goals per game, in all competitions.
“We are perhaps the worst team in the history of Manchester United. I know you want headlines, but I say it because we need to recognize it and change this. There you have your headline”launched the coach in the post-match conference.