
Rhian Brewster 6/10
Brewster (on for Slimane 67'); Osborn (for Brooks 80'). N/A; Norrington-Davies (on for Thomas 90'). Getty Images
Ederson 6/10
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Did well to claim a header from Osula just before the interval. A spectator for most of the game. AP
Kyle Walker 7/10
Fearsome 30-yard shot that whistled past the post on 24 minutes. Smart ball for Foden almost came off. Tried several shots that weren't far off target as Sheffield United attempted to park the bus. AFShow more
Manuel Akanji 6/10
Vital block on Osula shot just before half-time. A comfortable afternoon in the main. Getty Images
Nathan Ake 6/10
Found Osula's pace troublesome at times. Tidied up as Slimane looked to break five minutes before half-time. Getty Images
Josko Gvardiol 6/10
Very scrappy in first half. Gave the ball away more than once, much to Pep Guardiola's frustration. Improved in second half as he made some probing passes. Reuters
Mateo Kovacic 6/10
Another City player who was guilty of surrendering possession at times. AP
Rodri 8/10
Showed again why he is so valuable to City. Scored their first with a low drive from outside the box. Lovely lofted pass for Foden almost led to a goal. Wins possession and is so capable of hurting teShow more
Bernardo Silva 7/10
Neat and tidy as always. Supplied good cross for a headed chance by Alvarez. Linked played well and forced a good save from Fotheringham in the first half. Action Images
Phil Foden 9/10
His constant threat deserved a goal. Plays in the pocket very intelligently. Great movement and clever runs. Several shots that went close. Teed up Alvarez for second. Getty Images
Jack Grealish 7/10
Beautiful touch with the outside of his left foot to set up Alvarez for an early chance. Understandably, in light of his off-field issues this week, was taken off early in the second for Bobb. PA
Julian Alvarez 6/10
Early left-footed chance from outside the box flashed just wide. Close-range finish for City's second. AFP
Oscar Bobb 7/10
CITY SUBS: Oscar Bobb (on for Grealish 52'): Great injection of energy when he came on. Superb cross into the box but there was no-one there to add the finishing touch. Played a beautiful pass in the Show more
Rico Lewis 5/10
(on for Kovacic 68'): Couldn't get his feet sorted when presented with a chance in the box. AP
Ruben Dias 6/10
(on for Walker 68'): Just failed to meet a corner with his head late in the game. PA
Wes Foderingham 6/10
SHEFFIELD UNITED RATINGS. Brilliant save to deny Bernardo Silva on 21 minutes. Not much he could do about City's goals. Some dodgy distribution almost put his team in trouble late on. Action Images
George Baldock 5/10
Offered little in the way of an attacking threat. Worked hard in an effort to deny City space. EPA
Jack Robinson 6/10
Lucky to get away with an overambitious pass that almost gifted the ball to City on 37 minutes. Huffed and puffed to keep things tight but often troubled by City's fluidity. Getty Images
Auston Trusty 6/10
Kept City's forwards at arm's length for most of the first half, as the visitors proved hard to break down and the home side were restricted to shooting from long range. Vital block to deny Foden in sShow more
Jayden Bogle 6/10
Part of an organised Blades backline. Caught in possession to allow a break by Bernardo Silva at one point. Shot straight at Ederson just before the break when presented with a chance. Made some decenShow more
Vinicius Souza 6/10
Did well to pick Grealish's pocket in a dangerous position just after half-time. Up against it in the face of City's midfield movement. Getty Images
Oliver Norwood 5/10
Struggled to have much of an impact on the game. AFP
Luke Thomas 6/10
Important headed clearance from a Grealish cross just after the half-hour as Alvarez waited to pounce in the box. Battled hard. AFP
Anis Slimane 4/10
Gave the ball away sloppily more than once. Hooked with 20 minutes to go. Getty Images
Andre Brooks 5/10
Tracked back well early in second half. A bystander for much of the game. AFP
William Osula 7/10
His team's main threat. His pace gave Ake a headache. Started game brightly. Decent break on six minutes. Great chance to equalise just before half-time. Should have done better with it. Made way for Show more
Cameron Archer 5/10
SHEFF UTD SUBS. Archer (on for Osula 67'): Almost set up Bogle late in game. Getty Images
Rhian Brewster 6/10
Brewster (on for Slimane 67'); Osborn (for Brooks 80'). N/A; Norrington-Davies (on for Thomas 90'). Getty Images
Ederson 6/10
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Did well to claim a header from Osula just before the interval. A spectator for most of the game. AP
Kyle Walker 7/10
Fearsome 30-yard shot that whistled past the post on 24 minutes. Smart ball for Foden almost came off. Tried several shots that weren't far off target as Sheffield United attempted to park the bus. AFShow more
Manuel Akanji 6/10
Vital block on Osula shot just before half-time. A comfortable afternoon in the main. Getty Images
Nathan Ake 6/10
Found Osula's pace troublesome at times. Tidied up as Slimane looked to break five minutes before half-time. Getty Images
Josko Gvardiol 6/10
Very scrappy in first half. Gave the ball away more than once, much to Pep Guardiola's frustration. Improved in second half as he made some probing passes. Reuters
Mateo Kovacic 6/10
Another City player who was guilty of surrendering possession at times. AP
Rodri 8/10
Showed again why he is so valuable to City. Scored their first with a low drive from outside the box. Lovely lofted pass for Foden almost led to a goal. Wins possession and is so capable of hurting teShow more
Bernardo Silva 7/10
Neat and tidy as always. Supplied good cross for a headed chance by Alvarez. Linked played well and forced a good save from Fotheringham in the first half. Action Images
Phil Foden 9/10
His constant threat deserved a goal. Plays in the pocket very intelligently. Great movement and clever runs. Several shots that went close. Teed up Alvarez for second. Getty Images
Jack Grealish 7/10
Beautiful touch with the outside of his left foot to set up Alvarez for an early chance. Understandably, in light of his off-field issues this week, was taken off early in the second for Bobb. PA
Julian Alvarez 6/10
Early left-footed chance from outside the box flashed just wide. Close-range finish for City's second. AFP
Oscar Bobb 7/10
CITY SUBS: Oscar Bobb (on for Grealish 52'): Great injection of energy when he came on. Superb cross into the box but there was no-one there to add the finishing touch. Played a beautiful pass in the Show more
Rico Lewis 5/10
(on for Kovacic 68'): Couldn't get his feet sorted when presented with a chance in the box. AP
Ruben Dias 6/10
(on for Walker 68'): Just failed to meet a corner with his head late in the game. PA
Wes Foderingham 6/10
SHEFFIELD UNITED RATINGS. Brilliant save to deny Bernardo Silva on 21 minutes. Not much he could do about City's goals. Some dodgy distribution almost put his team in trouble late on. Action Images
George Baldock 5/10
Offered little in the way of an attacking threat. Worked hard in an effort to deny City space. EPA
Jack Robinson 6/10
Lucky to get away with an overambitious pass that almost gifted the ball to City on 37 minutes. Huffed and puffed to keep things tight but often troubled by City's fluidity. Getty Images
Auston Trusty 6/10
Kept City's forwards at arm's length for most of the first half, as the visitors proved hard to break down and the home side were restricted to shooting from long range. Vital block to deny Foden in sShow more
Jayden Bogle 6/10
Part of an organised Blades backline. Caught in possession to allow a break by Bernardo Silva at one point. Shot straight at Ederson just before the break when presented with a chance. Made some decenShow more
Vinicius Souza 6/10
Did well to pick Grealish's pocket in a dangerous position just after half-time. Up against it in the face of City's midfield movement. Getty Images
Oliver Norwood 5/10
Struggled to have much of an impact on the game. AFP
Luke Thomas 6/10
Important headed clearance from a Grealish cross just after the half-hour as Alvarez waited to pounce in the box. Battled hard. AFP
Anis Slimane 4/10
Gave the ball away sloppily more than once. Hooked with 20 minutes to go. Getty Images
Andre Brooks 5/10
Tracked back well early in second half. A bystander for much of the game. AFP
William Osula 7/10
His team's main threat. His pace gave Ake a headache. Started game brightly. Decent break on six minutes. Great chance to equalise just before half-time. Should have done better with it. Made way for Show more
Cameron Archer 5/10
SHEFF UTD SUBS. Archer (on for Osula 67'): Almost set up Bogle late in game. Getty Images
Rhian Brewster 6/10
Brewster (on for Slimane 67'); Osborn (for Brooks 80'). N/A; Norrington-Davies (on for Thomas 90'). Getty ImagesMan City v Sheffield United player ratings: Foden 9, Rodri 8; Osula 7, Slimane 4
Goals from Rodri and Alvarez give Pep Guardiola's side points in 2-0 win

Stuart James
December 30, 2023