It was a game of two halves
It looked to be game, set and match Manchester City as the half-time whistle blew. The hosts had taken a two goal lead through Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gündogan and were in cruise control throughout the entire first half. As Liverpool had done to them three days before, City denied United a shot on target.
José Mourinho will not have been pleased and judging by United’s reaction in the second half, he laid into them at the break. The visitors came out all guns blazing in the second half and levelled the scoring before the 69th minute through a Paul Pogba brace. The Frenchman benefited from a delicate knock-down from Ander Herrera and buried the chance.
Paul Pogba is the 1st player to score 2 goals in a game against Man City in any of their 50 fixtures in all competitions this season pic.twitter.com/sgaa5P7uFG
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) April 7, 2018
The equaliser came from a perfectly weighted cross from Alexis Sánchez towards Pogba, who finished his marauding run into the box with a carefully aimed header into the bottom corner. It was the perfect start to the half for both United and Pogba, who had come under a lot of criticism for playing selfishly in the first half.
Pogba did not play for the team in that half. He played for himself. Granted, everyone is playing poorly, but he is more interested in winning personal duels than launching attacks. Ego is causing him to hold onto the ball to show he can overcome challenges himself. And he can't.
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) April 7, 2018
Things got worse for City as Chris Smalling too latched onto a Sánchez cross unmarked, slotting the ball past Ederson. 2-3. City were crumbling.
Tempers flared in the latter stages of the game as tackles were flying in left right and centre. Ashley Young, in particular, was lucky to avoid a red card as his high tackle on Sergio Agüero went unpunished.
I was damning of Pogba first half but he has been brilliant since the break. A big reaction from him in the second period
— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) April 7, 2018
Pogba scoring goals, squaring up and sliding in late. He’s become Graeme Souness with a better barber.
— Musa Okwonga (@Okwonga) April 7, 2018
Those who jumped on Pogba’s back will be enjoying a nice slice of humble pie right about now.
