Manchester City 2-0 Sheffield United: Cityzens end winless streak at home, closes gap with leaders Liverpool

Manchester City have registered a suave 2-0 victory against Sheffield United as they end 2023 on a high, thus ending their three-match winless run at home. Goals from City’s favorite man Rodri and Julian Alvarez sealed the deal for Pep Guardiola’s side, as they steered the home side to a sweet victory at Etihad, closing in on league leaders Liverpool.

Manchester City ousts Sheffield United

Manchester City has once again proved the age-old statement that form is temporary, class is permanent. They might have been going through a three-match winless streak at home, but they would be ending the year on a high. They have demonstrated exceptional ability throughout the year, which has handed them five trophies, including the coveted Champions League when they defeated Inter Milan in the final of the European elite competition, when Rodri’s goal created history as Manchester City won the tournament for the first time. After registering a successful victory against Fluminense in the final of UEFA Super Cup, where a Julian Alvarez brace sealed the deal for Pep Guardiola’s side, City returned their focus to the domestic sector, where they were going through a diminutive ‘tense’ phase, without three wins on their home ground. But, last night, City asserted their dominance over their opponents, minnows Sheffield United, and grabbed a feisty victory with Rodri and Julian Alvarez, their heroes in European and Club World Cup finals, on target, thus ending this year on a high.

Rodri opens the scoring

With a tense game on the cards and three vital points at stake, Pep started his strongest eleven, but he was without the services of two of his legendary figures in the team, Norwegian goal-scoring monster Erling Haaland and Belgian midfield metronome, Kevin De Bruyne. The latter did make an appearance on the sidelines while warming up, but was not risked by Pep as he would be expected to take the field from the start of next year.

With Argentine World Cup winner who completed football at the tender age of 23, Julian Alvarez spearheading the attack, followed by Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Foden on his support, it was Rodri who made the first inroad for the home side. As expected, the Cityzens had dominated possession at the early stages of the game, and reaped the perfect result when Spaniard Rodri, often referred to as Pep’s go-to-man this season owing to his efficiency (stats say that City has lost few games when Rodri did not play), scored the opener. He ran at the Sheffield defense, entangling the Blades’ defense with his turns, thus blasting his side-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Julian Alvarez signs off a perfect year with a bang

With the score line of 1-0 in favor of the hosts, the game was poised for a climactic finish, as Sheffield did get hold the ball in some cases. It was Manchester City’s own Phil Foden who almost doubled the score, with a Jack Grealish ball paving way for him, but Blades’ keeper Foderingham was potent enough to blunt the chance.

But, it took just an hour for Alvarez to score the second goal of the night, as Foden turned the provider for the Argentine. The Englishman was sharp enough to roll the ball in front of the goal, with Alvarez waiting to pounce upon. The ‘complete’ footballer smashed the ball past Foderingham with a potent tap-in, thus rounding off the match, and year, which has been one of the memorable for the Argentine, as City ended their winless run at home. With this victory, they are trailing behind Premier League leaders Liverpool by two points, as 2024 promises to be an enthralling year for the English sides.