Manchester United held rivals Manchester City to a dull derby draw, which exposed the problems currently facing both Premier League clubs.
United and City have been below their usual standards this season and the goalless draw at Old Trafford displayed that.
For United, their problems lie in attack. For all their sharpness on the counter-attack, they failed to show the quality up front to make City pay.
Alejandro Garnacho missed a good chance from close range in the first half, while Manuel Ugarte flashed wide in the second.
Rasmus Hojlund was withdrawn with just 15 touches and no shots to his name and his replacement Joshua Zirkzee went close to an elusive opener, as he tested Ederson from Patrick Dorgu’s cross.
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City’s issues, meanwhile, are still in transition with United causing all sorts of problems on the break. They also looked toothless without Erling Haaland’s presence.
His understudy Omar Marmoush hit routine second-half efforts straight at Andre Onana, while Phil Foden was taken off on 56 minutes, having made little impact once again.
There would be no final Manchester derby win for Kevin De Bruyne, who started his 21st game against United in the week he announced he would be leaving City this summer. This was not the farewell to this fixture the Belgian deserved after a glittering City career.
The result means City missed the chance to jump over Chelsea into fourth place, following the Blues’ goalless draw at Brentford earlier in the day.
It allows Newcastle to draw level on points with Chelsea – and with a game in hand – if they beat Leicester on Monday.
United, meanwhile, remain in 13th – seven points below the top half.
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