Manchester City capped off an extraordinary 2023 with a commanding 2-0 triumph over Sheffield United at the Etihad Stadium, propelling them to third place in the table.
In their first home fixture since clinching the Club World Cup, City maintained a flawless record at the Etihad throughout the entire calendar year, securing the victory with goals from Rodrigo and Julian Alvarez.
The win comes as a relief for Pep Guardiola's squad, breaking a string of draws in their last three Premier League home games. The three points earned place them just two points behind league leaders Liverpool as they reach the midway point of the 2023/24 season.
City asserted their dominance from the outset, and Rodrigo opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a well-placed finish from 20 yards. Alvarez extended the lead with a tap-in after a skillful team move in the 60th minute, sealing the victory.
Sheffield United struggled to create opportunities, with Osula's controlled effort from Bogle's cross being one of their few half-chances, ultimately deflected behind by Manuel Akanji.
The 61st minute saw City put the match beyond reach, with Alvarez netting a tap-in at the far post after a setup by Phil Foden. This marked Alvarez's fourth goal in the last three matches across all competitions.
Sheffield United, unable to threaten City's goal significantly, managed only four shots throughout the entire match. Their position at the bottom of the table remains unchanged, with nine points from 20 matches.
(With Agency Inputs)
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