Manchester City vs Sheffield United result: Player ratings as City extend their lead at the top

Manchester City recorded an eighth straight win in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United on Saturday.

The Blades were resilient defensively in their midweek win over Manchester United, but their resistance was broken early on here. Ferran Torres squirmed away from two tackles and found Gabriel Jesus unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box, and the Brazilian was able to sort his feet out and rifle home within the opening 10 minutes.

City dominated the half, as expected, but beyond threatening from set-pieces they didn’t create too many more clear-cut openings, while a Rhian Brewster shot on target from range was all the away side mustered.

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Phil Foden teed up Oleks Zinchenko for a shot from range which was saved and John Fleck sent a late volley wide as the Blades looked to snatch a point, but neither team could add to the scoreline and City went four points clear at the top.

Here are the player ratings from the game at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City

Ederson - 6. Entirely untroubled throughout.

Kyle Walker - 7. Decent outlet in build-up play but not always space to run into as he likes.

Ruben Dias - 8. Another commanding showing to snuff out any United hopes at counters and set-pieces.

Aymeric Laporte - 7. A decent return to the side. A threat from set-plays and built well from deep.

Oleks Zinchenko - 7. Got into good areas but not always the best end product.

Fernandinho - 7. Total control for the experienced midfield man.

Ilkay Gundogan - 8. Some brilliant set-piece deliveries and kept his team moving forwards.

Bernardo Silva - 8. Has rediscovered his ability to dictate City’s game.

Ferran Torres - 8. Did very well for the opening goal. Kept width to stretch the game and dangerous with his dribbling.

Gabriel Jesus - 7. Scored the vital early opener. Might have snatched another later on.

Phil Foden - 7. A little below-par, particularly in the second half, compared to recent performances - but still showed some lovely moments of dribbling ability.

Sheffield United

Aaron Ramsdale - 7. Nothing he could do with the goal. Good handling on this occasion with long and high balls into the area. Tipped a Zinchenko shot wide too.

George Baldock - 5. Not a great surprise when he was subbed as the wing-backs weren’t great defensively and didn’t offer an outlet.

Chris Basham - 6. Inexplicably left Jesus alone for the goal. Cleared the ball repeatedly but hesitant in ground duels.

John Egan - 7. Swept up the danger in the box and decent in the air.

Ethan Ampadu - 6. The Blades were exposed quite frequently down their left, with Ampadu struggling on that side of defence.

Jayden Bogle - 5. Like Ampadu, couldn’t keep up with City’s overloads and passing down that side of the pitch.

John Lundstram - 5. All three midfielders were hard-working but Lundstram lacked quality on the ball.

Oliver Norwood - 5. Overrun by the likes of Gundogan and Silva. Never really got forward to good effect.

John Fleck - 6. United’s best outlet and tried repeatedly to build more sustained attacks. Nearly scored a late equaliser with a late drive wide.

Oliver Burke - 5. Ran the channels, closed down when possible and tried a few dribbles but ultimately didn’t get enough of the ball.

Rhian Brewster - 5. Endeavour and one shot on the turn but never really a threat.