Sir Alex Ferguson called it the worst loss of his career – as a player and as a manager. It was. Manchester City dealt their arch-rivals Manchester United their worst home defeat in 56 years Sunday, rampaging through Old Trafford behind David Silva to trounce the Red Devils, 6-1.
Two goals apiece from Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko, plus single strikes from Kun Aguero and Silva himself, shocked the United faithful, who saw their club's 19-match home unbeaten streak shattered after Jonny Evans was rightly sent off early in the second half.
This was more than a clinic. It was an outright demolition, and it may signal that the balance of power has shifted in a city that seems to control this year’s Premier League race. Dzeko was careful after the match to note that this was only a single game in a long season, but the baleful look on Ferguson’s face spoke volumes more.
With Nemanja Vidic unable to play a part in today’s game, United’s defense simply fell apart. Evans was no match for Balotelli, continually being caught on the wrong side of the big Italian striker, and Rio Ferdinand was totally unable to handle the pace and vision of Silva.
Time and time again, it was Silva making the cutting diagonal, finding James Milner twice to set up Balotelli twice, another time just popping the ball audaciously downfield from the halfway line right through sub Phil Jones and Ferdinand to give Dzeko a too-easy late goal.
When Evans was ejected for simply hauling down Balotelli on the edge of the area, it was a symptom not of lazy defending, but of a complete technical mismatch. Simply put, the Sky Blues were more patient, more clinical and vastly more damaging.
Despite a solid early 20 minutes where United teased and tested behind Wayne Rooney, Nani and Ashley Young, City gave nothing away up top, then began to push further and further upfield to shatter what resistance was met.
Don’t blame United's David De Gea in the net. He was isolated on virtually every goal and had little chance to stem the bleeding.
The questions that come out of this match are potent. City now sit five full points clear of United atop the table and are in as much control of their destiny as any team can be this far out from the end of the year. Whether or not they can grow into their new role as pacesetters is an open question: They are in purely uncharted territory.
What is known is that Silva is perhaps the best creator in the Premiership game, Balotelli has suddenly sparked to life, and Vincent Kompany is anchoring a back line that is coolly efficient even against the best of teams.
United, who stormed out of the gate with some particularly impressive performances — including a memorable 8-2 trashing of Arsenal — now have to go back and regroup. They were not strong enough in midfield today, and utterly ineffective in the back. With Ferdinand and Vidic so creaky and Rafael unavailable, the Red Devils suddenly look very vulnerable. Don’t be so foolish as to count them out, but this is more than a simply humbling moment for a proud team.
