Manchester United ended a four-game losing streak against Manchester City in style Sunday, beating their local rival 4-2 in the Premier League to signal a power shift back to the red half of the city.
Manchester United’s sixth straight league win came despite the soon-to-be-deposed champions going ahead through Sergio Aguero’s eighth-minute opener. Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini scored to put United ahead at halftime before goals by Juan Mata and Chris Smalling in a seven-minute span midway through the second half. Aguero grabbed a late consolation for City.
The result will pile the pressure on City manager Manuel Pellegrini, whose team has now lost six of its last eight games in all competitions in a dreadful 2015. Manchester City is fourth, 12 points behind leader Chelsea in a brittle title defense. Manchester United stayed third, four points ahead of Manchester City, and won’t want the season to come to an end. The swagger is back at Old Trafford under Louis van Gaal, who has restored belief in the 20-time English champions.
Manchester City has inflicted some painful defeats on Manchester United since its rise as a force in the English game over the last few years, notably last season when it won 4-1 at home and 3-0 away on the way to the title.
The hurt will have subsided with this win.
Thumbnail photo via Jon Super/The Associated Press
