From Saturday night’s superb storming of Crystal Palace to Derby Day… What more could you ask for of a weekend?
READ: Super City bounce back with win at Palace
WATCH: Match highlights | Palace 0-2 City
GALLERY: City too good for Palace
While Pep Guardiola’s men returned to winning ways in the Premier League last night, Nick Cushing’s side lock horns with neighbours United for just the second time in professional competition in the Continental Cup.
As always, there’s also a snippet of transfer gossip and Gabriel Jesus‘ message to his Liverpool compatriots, ahead of the Reds’ visit to Old Trafford.
With so much to discuss, this morning’s Media Watch is a bumper edition. Let’s dive right in…
Match reaction
The Mirror: Majestic Man City should be cherished even if they don’t defend Premier League title
Andy Dunn: “As long as Pep Guardiola and his team produce moments and goals such as the one that effectively ended this match as a contest, they should be cherished by all of those without a dog in the fight.
“Deepish in his own half, an interception falls to David Silva, who cushions a pass into the stride of a gliding Kevin de Bruyne.
“And then to Raheem Sterling, who can feel the breeze from David Silva’s dart between defenders, sense his senior colleague’s intentions.
“A pass lifted exhibition-style and as it drops from the Selhurst air, an over-the-shoulder volley from a player who defines sublime.
“It was a thing of beauty. In a tequila sunrise of a strip, it was a cocktail of ingenuity, the type of goal Guardiola must dream about.
“It got a ten for its importance, pretty much guaranteeing a positive result after the Wolves wobble by taking City into the break two to the good.
“And no-one was more instrumental in securing that result than Sterling.
“If the impudent flick for David Silva’s goal was the party piece of his performance, one breathless dash back to dispossess Wilfried Zaha was the food and drink.
“With what passes for City defenders nowadays nowhere to be seen, Sterling’s diligence was as equally as importance as his brilliance.”
Manchester Evening News: Raheem Sterling assist wasn’t even his most important Man City moment vs Crystal Palace
Simon Bajkowski: “Raheem Sterling may have produced an eye-popping, mind-boggling piece of skill as he scooped the ball up and down like Tiger Woods to allow David Silva to majestically volley home, but the England man’s most important contribution arguably came before that.
“Manchester City had not made their dominance count on the scoresheet when makeshift centre-back Rodri slipped and could only watch as a ball sailed over his body into the space where Wilfried Zaha was galloping.
“Low on confidence last season after losing to Palace, they could not respond when Leicester also took the lead against them in the next game.
“Yet they did not have the same test this time because, before Zaha could get close to goal, Sterling had galloped back and produced a perfect slide tackle to win the ball back.
“It summed up the energy and the commitment of a team determined to defend together as well as attack together to make sure they all went home with the win.”
The Guardian: Gabriel Jesus and David Silva on target as Manchester City pick off Palace
Sachin Nakrani: “If Manchester City go on to retain the title they may look back at this game as an important step.
“The champions arrived here with their backs against the wall having lost to Wolves before the international break and with Liverpool sailing off in the distance.
“If that was not bad enough, Pep Guardiola was forced into deploying a team containing no recognised central defenders. Another slip looked possible but instead City showed their class and defiance to record a victory that puts them within five points of Jürgen Klopp’s men, who visit Old Trafford on Sunday.
“It remains early days in the title race but this nevertheless felt like a notable win for Guardiola’s team given the context and the circumstances. Some sides may have stumbled; City instead dominated possession, territory and chances created.
“Crystal Palace mustered a period of pressure late on, having been deflated by Gabriel Jesus and David Silva’s goals in the space of two first-half minutes, but that merely gave the platform for Ederson to show why he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world.”
From the players
The Express: Man City ace Jesus lifts lid on chat with Fabinho and Firmino before Man Utd vs Liverpool
Gabriel Jesus on whether he will watch United v Liverpool (to Sky Sports): “I think so! I think so!
“I talk with Firmino and Fabinho on national team [duty] last week. I said to them both ‘all the best this season.’
“I’m very happy because last season I had a difficult start to the season, so this season is going to be different for me.
“I work hard and focus on the goal all the time so that’s why I think I score a lot.
“Always all my life I’m working hard on the pitch, when I go onto the pitch I forget everything outside.
“That helps me a lot, for working and thinking just about the game.”
Manchester Derby build-up
MCFC Xtra: The Big Match Preview: Manchester United vs Manchester City (Continental Cup)
“Manchester City’s 100% start to the season in all competitions was ended on Wednesday night as a late Atletico Madrid equaliser meant the Champions League Round of 16 tie ended 1-1. City will want to bounce back, and what better game to do that than the Manchester derby…
“In the only previous Continental Cup game this season, City put on a five star display at the Academy Stadium. Doubles from Weir and Bremer followed by a Wullaert strike capped off a fine performance and a perfect start to the competition they’ll be hoping to retain.
“The previous Manchester derby, the opening game of the WSL season, was won in spectacular style by Caroline Weir’s wonder-strike. The game was played in front of a record 33,000 capacity crowd at the Etihad and was a game the Blues largely dominated.
“Weir again will look to be at the centre of things tomorrow, using her creativity and ability to drift accross the pitch to set up chances for the surely goal hungry, Georgia Stanway.
“Nick Cushing will know how tough the opposition will be though, and Casey Stoney has got the Red Devils playing some good football. Beating Liverpool and Tottenham in their past two games means they’ll be going into the game full of confidence.”
Manchester Evening News: Casey Stoney and Jane Ross preview Man Utd’s clash against Manchester City in the Conti Cup
Jane Ross: “I think competing and challenging with them in that first game of the season gave us confidence and we have won our last two games in the league so we are hoping to continue that momentum.
“There’s no doubt City are a quality team with a lot of top players and it’s going to be a tough game but we have to go into that game believing in ourselves that we can win.”
Transfer gossip
Sports Mole: Manchester City ‘offered in-demand teenager Albert Sambi Lokonga’
Matt Law: “Manchester City have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Anderlecht teenager Albert Sambi Lokonga.
“The 19-year-old has made 20 first-team appearances for Anderlecht - including five in all competitions for the Belgian club at the start of the 2019-20 campaign.
“The midfielder is highly-rated at Lotto Park but will see his current deal expire at the end of the season.
“According to Marca, City have been approached by Lokonga’s representatives to ascertain whether the Premier League champions would be interested in making a contract offer in January.”
