This was a huge performance, and an even bigger win, for Manchester United. It was a milestone result under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a game-changing performance for a team that no longer appears to be in transition but heading towards a very positive point of arrival. Bruno Fernandes has transformed this midfield, in a way Paul Pogba was supposed to, but did not. Fred looks a player, Anthony Martial a match-winning striker at last. As for the defence, they held strong, particularly in the second-half when Manchester City dominated in search of a goal. If anything, Victor Lindelof looked even more resilient than Harry Maguire.
It is an irony that players signed by Jose Mourinho are far closer to justifying their purchase under his successor Solskjaer. Perhaps it is simply the passing of time, and experience, in the Premier League. Perhaps Solskjaer is prepared to devote more of his energy to understanding and correcting their flaws. Certainly, he is getting a tune out of Martial whose four goals in five games is his best run since October-November 2018, when he had Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford and Alexis Sanchez as support. This time, Martial is shouldering the burden in the front-line alone with Rashford out, and the others gone. After an unconvincing start, he is rising to the occasion and Solskjaer deserves credit for that, too.
He didn't have many options, true, but he persevered with Martial and has been rewarded. Manchester United are now a win off Chelsea in fourth, and only five points from Leicester in third. They may not need UEFA's ban on Manchester City to stretch Champions League qualification to fifth place after all.
So that's the good news, from a United perspective. Now the bad. If Liverpool keep winning they will clinch the title on March 21 at home to Crystal Palace, the earliest it has been won in English football history. Just four teams have secured it with five games to spare: Manchester City 2017-18, Manchester United 2000-01, Everton 1984-85 and Manchester United 1907-08. Liverpool would have seven fixtures remaining.
Of course, it could be even earlier if Manchester City slip up against Arsenal or Burnley – indeed, there is a permutation in which Liverpool have enough points already. Whatever the future holds, it will be painful for United. If anything, they would rather City won a third straight title than Liverpool a first. Yet it is going to happen, we all know that. So, on Sunday, United had to do their job and not worry about ramifications elsewhere; which is exactly what they did.
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