Manchester United vs Man City LIVE score: Result and reaction as Fernandes and Rashford complete turnaround

There will be a lot of debate about the equaliser at Old Trafford but there can be no disputing its merit, outcome or significance.

A resurgent Manchester United were full value for a 2-1 late comeback victory against Manchester City that saw Erik ten Hag’s side evoke the derby victories of old while strengthening the conviction that a new era has at last started. It may well be represented by match-winners Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, and certainly sounded like that in the stands throughout.

While that was huge for Ten Hag and United - especially given the transformation from October’s 6-3 humiliation - it might have been even bigger for Arsenal. In the space of four late second-half minutes, they and the rest of the world witnessed their lead go from two points back out to five, with the potential to make it eight at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

By Miguel Delaney at Old Trafford

Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji says the decision to award Manchester United’s first goal, despite Marcus Rashford being in an offside position, was a “joke”.

“To be honest the first goal is a joke,” he told Match of the Day. “I saw Rashford, he was clearly offside, so I played him offside. He runs until the last second and he stops when the ball is in front of him and he’s right in front of Eddy, ready to score the goal, because Bruno Fernandes is shouting him.

“I understand he doesn’t touch the ball but he’s running for 30 metres and until the last second. For me it is clearly offside. The referee doesn’t even look at the situation, it got explained at the start of the year this would be clearly offside.”

Erik ten Hag, speaking to BT Sport: ““The first half we played very well. We defended very well and broke in good opportunities. We were really happy at half-time. After half-time we had to sub Martial, he had some complaints, and the game changed. City came in, we were not proactive. They scored. The spirit of the team is so huge, the belief is there that the game is 90 minutes and we can fight back.

“I’m really happy with the performance of the team. The belief is back and we’re in a good direction. You have to work out of possession [against teams like City]. They have qualities in split-moments to score goals. We saw that today. One mistake and they scored.”

Pep Guardiola, speaking to BBC Sport: “Congratulations to United. People will understand how nice Manchester City is. It was a fantastic game. We controlled the transitions better in the second half against Rashford and their fast players. We had the right spirit to do it. We were close and we have to improve when we concede the goal, be more stable, the gap between the first and second goal is too close. In general I have no regrets. I don’t care if we don’t win the Carabao Cup or the Premier League, we’ll try. I don’t care when a team performs how we play. It was quite similar to the many, many years we’ve been here. There are plenty of points to play for and we have to play there. In every game we have to perform. We always play in these sort of games and in others we struggle a little bit.”

Manchester United’s newest forward was in the stands, balancing a child on each knee. Their most expensive one started the game on the bench. Their season may not be defined by Wout Weghorst or Antony, however, as much as the rejuvenated, increasingly remarkable Marcus Rashford. Manchester City may argue that he altered the direction of a derby without touching the ball: Bruno Fernandes’ equaliser was initially disallowed because Rashford was offside when he chased Casemiro’s through pass, but allowed to stand because the Portuguese instead met it.

Casemiro was probably aiming for Rashford. There was no doubt Alejandro Garnacho was four minutes later when the striker tucked in a low cross. A Manchester derby was decided by a Mancunian. Manchester United, humiliated 6-3 at the Etihad in October, were triumphant at Old Trafford in January. Rashford, whose five previous meetings with City had yielded a lone shot on target, had the shot that mattered most.

By Richard Jolly at Old Trafford

Pep Guardiola, speaking to BT Sport: “We played really good. Really good levels. They are a threat in the transitions. I congratulate the team because we come here with personality.

“Rashford was offside. I don’t know if he distracted our goalkeeper, but we played really well.

“We missed a little bit our threat up front but they make things difficult with how they follow man to man.

“Carabao Cup we didn’t perform, today we performed. Now we focus on Spurs in a few days.”

Bruno Fernandes tells BT Sport: “It’s always important to win a game. As the manager said it doesn’t matter who the opponents are. Amazing comeback.

“I said before the game we look like a team now. Some time ago sometimes each one of us was looking for ourselves. Now you see a proper team playing for each other.”

Fernandes is named man of the match.

United move one point behind City, six points off Arsenal! The Gunners can move nine clear if they beat Tottenham tomorrow though.

But City were hoping they could have put serious pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side. Instead, the questions are mounting for Pep Guardiola. City were ineffective in attack again today - Haaland barely had a touch - and this time they were punished.

It’s NINE wins in a row for Manchester United under Erik ten Hag, and surely the best day he’s had at Old Trafford so far.

There are some angry exchanges at the end, and plenty of City fury towards the referee - Grealish leading the protests.

What a turnaround, what a result for the Premier League title race! A classic Manchester derby!