Player Ratings: Manchester City 2-0 Sheffield United (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City bounced back with a crucial 2-0 win over high-flying Sheffield United at the Etihad Stadium thanks to goals from Sergio Agüero and Kevin de Bruyne.

Here’s how we rated the players…

Claudio Bravo – 7

A hugely important clean sheet for Bravo who did little wrong all night. He needed that confidence badly.

Oleksandr Zinchenko – 6.5

Really struggled in the first half with rustiness as well as Sheffield United’s physicality. However, everyone’s favourite Ukrainian left-back (literally everyone’s) got much better as the game went on and was soon looking comfortable again.

Fernandinho – 7.5

Marshalled the defence well to gain us a clean sheet that’s been all too rare of late. We needed to get through this one without conceding after Friday night, and we did – thanks largely to Fernandinho’s leadership.

Eric García – 7.5

Really impressive performance from García here, barely putting a foot wrong and playing with maturity and confidence. His ability to slot into the team was so natural that I’d personally rather start him than Stones or Otamendi for the foreseeable future – at least until the former regains his form.

Kyle Walker – 6.5

Passing was not the best early on but Walker got the job done and really grew into the game, playing his role in a solid overall defence.

Rodri – 7

Played perfectly well once again, and is looking more and more assured defensively. He’s starting to get better at Fernandinho’s qualities that were so key to our title wins – next season he’ll be a beast.

Kevin de Bruyne – 8.5 (Man of the Match)

Assisted Agüero’s opener with a pinpoint through-ball in controversial circumstances, before wrapping it up with a lovely finish at the end of a self-orchestrated counter-attack. I still don’t enjoy seeing him forced back into a deeper role because it limits his potency – yet he was still the best player on the pitch.

Bernardo Silva – 7

As per usual – hard work, tenacity, great dribbling and high energy. Didn’t contribute as much going forward as he would have done last season but that can be attributed to our shaky defence forcing him to shield them more.

Riyad Mahrez – 8

A vital contribution from the Algerian as he set up De Bruyne’s late goal after a great all-round game. The two seem to understand each other better and better with each passing game and have the best attacking technique in the squad.

Sergio Agüero – 8

Scored a really good goal at a crucial time to set us on our way. It’s good to see Agüero back on the scoresheet, although he didn’t get the best service tonight.

Raheem Sterling – 6

Looked really tired tonight and ultimately ineffective compared to his usual self. I think Raheem needs a game off soon – perhaps Jesus could fill in on the left, because we need Sterling back to his best and rested before the United games.

Substitutes:

Ilkay Gundogan – 6

Came on and helped solidify the defence.

Phil Foden – N/A

No real time to mark.

Gabriel Jesus – N/A

No real time to mark.

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