Manchester United and Manchester City both shared the spoils in a goalless derby played on Saturday.
Following what was a disappointing week for United that ended their participation in the Champions League, the hosts couldn’t find a way past a sluggish City side to extend their woeful homes form. A goalless draw on Saturday means that Man United are the only team in the Premier League this season yet to score a goal at home from their strikers
The hosts will, however, be the more satisfied side after the game as City, who have been on hot form recently couldn’t muster any clear cut chances against them in this tie.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer partnered Paul Pogba who has been in the news in recent days with Scott McTominay in the midfield, a system different from the three at the back employed against Leipzig in the Champions League. The idea was to offer more protection on the ball and hit City on the counter with Pogba able to pick sharp passes that can release Rashford.
But what followed was a dour draw that had few precious chances.
The game started with City seeing more of the ball in the early exchanges. However, they couldn’t muster any meaningful attempt on goal with United instead coming closest to scoring in the 11th minute, but Scott McTominay couldn’t connect to a Victor Lindelof flick-on.
The visitors responded to that attempt a few minutes later, Sterling fashioning an opening after tying Aaron Wan-Bissaka in nuts. But a vital block from Harry Maguire denied the winger. They will come again 10 minutes before half time through Mahrez, but this time David de Gea produced a decent save to keep the scoreline goalless heading into the break.
The hosts thought they had won a penalty after the break when Kyle Walker clipped Rashford, but VAR ruled that the English man had strayed marginally offside before the event.
Both teams will test themselves a few times after the penalty incident, but none could find a way through the defence to nick a win.
The draw meant that City have failed to score in two consecutive away league games for the first time since January 2017 (2 games).
United are back in action on Thursday when they travel to Sheffield United while City welcome struggling West Brom to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
