The Red Devils temporarily climb to the podium (3rd, 38 points), only one length behind the defending champion (2nd), while Arsenal, leader with 44 units, faces Tottenham on Sunday.

For the men of Pep Guardiola, on the other hand, it is a second defeat in a row after the elimination in the quarter-finals of the League Cup, Wednesday, at the last, Southampton (2-0) and the confirmation that some thing doesn't work anymore.

Already hooked recently by Everton at home (1-1), City has taken the bad habit of missing its first periods, like at Chelsea, despite the victory (1-0), or Southampton.

At Old Trafford again, and despite possession of the ball largely in favor of City, United could estimate at the end of the first 45 minutes leading slightly in points thanks to two chances from Marcus Rashford.

Launched by Bruno Fernandes on the first, the Englishman had dribbled Ederson out of his box but found Kyle Walker returned to protect his goal (34th).

Three minutes later, put into orbit by Christian Eriksen, he had pushed his ball too far and stumbled on the Brazilian goalkeeper.

United do not abdicate

Apart from a strike countered by Casemiro, on his first and only dangerous ball in the first act (23rd), Erling Haaland had been completely transparent, confirming the collective difficulties that City have been experiencing since the recovery in exploiting the presence of his Norwegian colossus, so decisive before the cut of the World Cup.

Pep Guardiola in Manchester on January 14, 2023 © Oli SCARFF / AFP

Upon returning from the locker room, Guardiola's coaching seemed to solve the problem with the entry (57th) of Jack Grealish in place of Phil Foden.

Three minutes later, the newcomer converted a cross from de Bruyne and his header hit the mark (0-1, 60th).

But Manchester United does not remain for nothing on eight victories in a row in all competitions.

Erik Ten Hag's men did not give up and on a deep opening, Rashford, clearly offside, had the intelligence not to touch the ball, leaving Bruno Fernandes to deceive Ederson to equalize (1-1, 78th).

In a theater of dreams that had become electric, Rashford struck the blow four minutes later, closely taking over a cross from Alejandro Ganacho (2-1, 82nd) ​​and thus finding the net in a 7th game in a row .

A performance achieved for the last time with the Red Devils in 2008 by a certain Cristiano Ronaldo, today in Saudi Arabia and which Old Trafford has already quickly forgotten.

© 2023 AFP