City wins, United limps to draw as gulf between rivals grows

The gulf between the two Manchester clubs was at its most stark in the English Premier League on Saturday.

A few hours after United's latest disjointed display in a 1-1 draw at home to Southampton, City coped just fine with resting key players in a 4-0 win at Norwich — led by a hat trick from Raheem Sterling — that extended its lead to 12 points.

Last season, City and United finished as the top two. This season, they are separated by 23 points with a third of the season still to play and United in fifth place.

How crucial might that day be, at the end of last August, when United beat City to the signature of Cristiano Ronaldo? Some regarded that as a statement signing that could tip the balance of power United's way.

Six months later and Ronaldo is on his worst scoring run in 13 years — he hasn't found the net in his last six games — and City has just risen to the top of the league's scoring charts on 61 goals, without a recognized striker in its squad.

Who needs one when City has so many attacking midfielders capable of scoring? Against Norwich, Sterling scored either side of Phil Foden and then his third goal from a rebound off his saved penalty to move on to 10 in the league, making him City's leading scorer.

City manager Pep Guardiola didn't even need to bring the likes of Kevin De Bruyne or Joao Cancelo off the bench, keeping them fresh for Sporting in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Second-placed Liverpool has two games in hand over City, starting away to last-placed Burnley on Sunday.

As for United, Ralf Rangnick is finding it as hard to get a tune out of the team as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did. The latest problem is hanging onto a lead, with Che Adams' 48th-minute goal for Southampton canceling out Jadon Sancho's