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Walker’s goal was the fourth with Manchester City
Kyle Walker marked his 100th Premier League appearance for Manchester City with a goal against his former club when Pep Guardiola’s team beat Sheffield United.
The right-back, who passed through the ranks of the Blades, struck midway through the first half with a superb long-range shot.
It was a well-deserved goal for a Manchester City that dominated the first half, and they could have added another had it not been for an excellent save by Aaron Ramsdale at the head of Ferran Torres.
Ramsdale did well again in the second half when he dived to full length to avoid a free kick from Riyad Mahrez.
But from then on the visitors struggled to find a game-killing second goal and United should have capitalized when substitute John Lundstram fired a bit more from a Sander Berge cross.
That was the closest the Blades got when City achieved their third league win of the season to move to the top half of the table.
Sheffield United remains winless and in the relegation zone with just one point in their first seven games.
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Walker’s impressive form continues
After playing a starring role in a 3-0 Champions League win against Marseille in the middle of the week, Guardiola described Walker as the best of his career at City.
While City’s displays have been spotty this season, and they were again far from their best attack in this game, Walker’s consistently high-quality performances have been very positive.
Such is Guardiola’s faith in the 30-year-old right-back that his position is the only one that has not rotated, with Walker being the only player who has started every game this season.
His goal against his hometown club was a wonderfully clean shot, hit with power and precision from 25 yards to the bottom corner.
In the second half, a burst of pace saw him come in behind the United defense and his cut was half cleared for Kevin de Bruyne, who fired a deflected shot.
While City have yet to really shine in attack, their recent defensive displays are encouraging. This was a second clean sheet in a row with Walker and Joao Cancelo impressing at winger positions as Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias are developing into a strong central defensive association.
Blunt Blades needs sharpening Substitute Lundstram, correct, had a great opportunity to equalize for the hosts
Having enjoyed a fairy tale comeback to the Premier League last season, when they finished ninth, it seems increasingly likely that this will be a long and difficult campaign for the Blades.
They have earned just one point from their first seven games, compared to eight at the same stage last season, and while a win against City was always going to be a difficult task, it rarely seemed like they believed they could cause a surprise.
The hosts barely put a glove on City in the first half, but a good 15-minute period after the break, when they got a glimpse of what they were before, produced their best chance when Lundstram fired.
Scoring goals is proving difficult for the Blades this season despite the addition of Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster for a club record of £ 23.5 million.
They had just one shot on goal in this game and haven’t scored more than one goal in a game so far this season, leaving them heavily dependent on a defense that has yet to keep a clean sheet.
Wilder’s rare winless career – the statistics
- Manchester City have won more top flight matches on 31 October than any other team in top flight history in England (11). Sheffield United have added just one point in their first seven league games in a season for the first time since 1975-76. Manchester City have won four consecutive league matches against Sheffield United for the first time since March 1930 and Sheffield United have failed to win any of their last 11 matches in all competitions, the longest winless streak of the Chris Wilder. After losing three straight away games between March and July, City are unbeaten in their last six on the road in the competition. Since the restart in June, Sheffield United have failed to score in more Premier League games than any other team (nine). Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne has been directly involved in four goals in three Premier League games against Sheffield United (one goal, three assists), assisting in all three appearances. Six of City defender Kyle Walker’s eight goals in the Premier League have been scored from outside the area, and today is his first away goal in the competition.
Whats Next?
Sheffield United will travel to Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday, November 7 (17:30 GMT) while Manchester City is in European action, hosting Olympiakos in the Champions League on Tuesday, November 3 (20:00 GMT)
Man of the match
De Bruyne Kevin De Bruyne
with an average of 7.55
- Sheff UtdSheffield UnitedSheffield UnitedMan CityManchester CityManchester City
Sheffield UnitedAvg Team Number1 Player Name Ramsdale Average Score
6.45
Squad Number 8 Player Name Berge Average Rating
6.05
Squad Number 22 Player Name Ampadu Average Rating
5.64
Squad number 6 Player name Basham Average rating
5.59
Squad number 12 Player name Egan Average rating
5.57
Squad Number 13 Player Name Lowe Average Rating
5.55
Squad Number 2 Player Name Baldock Average Rating
5.54
Squad number 17 Player name McGoldrick Average rating
5.44
Squad Number 24 Player Name Brewster Average Rating
5.41
Squad number 3 Player name Stevens Average rating
5.30
Squad Number 7 Player Name Lundstram Average Rating
5.26
Squad Number 23 Player Name Osborn Average Rating
5.21
Squad number 9 Player name McBurnie Average rating
5.21
Squad Number 16 Player Name Norwood Average Rating
5.16
Manchester CityAvg Squad Number17 Player Name De Bruyne Average Score
7.55
Squad number 2 Player name Walker Average rating
7.48
Squad number 14 Player name Laporte Average rating
6.94
Squad number 3 Player name Rúben Dias Average rating
6.87
Squad number 16 Player name Rodri Average rating
6.86
Squad Number 7 Player Name Sterling Average Rating
6.85
Squad number 31 Player name Ederson Average rating
6.71
Squad number 27 Player name João Cancelo Average score
6.68
Squad Number 21 Player Name Towers Average Rating
6.56
Squad number 20 Player name Bernardo Silva Average score
6.51
Squad number 8 Player name Gündogan Average rating
6.39
Squad Number 26 Player Name Mahrez Average Rating
6.29
Squad Number 47 Player Name Foden Average Rating
5.64
- Lineups Match Statistics Live Text
LineupsSheff Utd
- 1Ramsdale2Baldock6Basham12Egan3Stevens13LoweReplaced byMcGoldrickat 81’minutes8Berge22AmpaduReplaced byNorwoodat 65’minutes23OsbornReplaced by Lundstramat 55’minutes9McBurnie24Brewster
Substitutes
- 7Lundstram10Sharp14Burke16Norwood17McGoldrick19Robinson21Verrips
City man
- 31Ederson2Walker3Rúben Dias14Laporte27Cancel17De Bruyne16Rodri20Bernardo Silva26MahrezReplaced by Gündoganat 85’minutes21TorresReplaced byFodenat 81’minutes7Sterling
Substitutes
- 5Piedras6Aké8Gündogan11Zinchenko47Foden50García85Trafford
Referee: Michael OliverMatch StatsHome TeamSheff UtdAway TeamMan CityPossessionHome35% Away65% ShotsHome3Away16 Shots on targetHome1Away8CornersHome2Away5FoulsHome14Away6Live TextPost update
Match ends, Sheffield United 0, Manchester City 1.
90 ‘+ 4’ Full time
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 0, Manchester City 1.
90 ‘+ 2’Post update
Auction rejected. Attempt blocked. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
89’Post update
Rúben Dias (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89’Post update
Foul by Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United).
87’Post update
João Cancelo (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87’Post update
Foul by George Baldock (Sheffield United).
85 ‘Substitution
Change, Manchester City. Ilkay Gündogan replaces Riyad Mahrez.
84’Post update
Shot stopped brushing the left square. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez.
81 ‘Substitution
Change, Manchester City. Phil Foden replaces Ferran Torres.
81 ‘Substitution
Change at Sheffield United. David McGoldrick replaces Max Lowe.
79’Post update
Ferran Torres (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79’Post update
Foul by John Egan (Sheffield United).
76’Post update
João Cancelo (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
76’Post update
Foul by George Baldock (Sheffield United).
73’Post update
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by George Baldock.
71’Post update
Shot stopped brushing the left square. Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by John Lundstram.
70’Post update
Failed attempt. It goes too high. John Lundstram (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the center of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Sander Berge.
65 ‘Substitution
Change at Sheffield United. Oliver Norwood replaces Ethan Ampadu.
62’Post update
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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