Sergio Aguero is silver fox in the box for Man City masters as Man United come up well short

THE GOOD

PASS MASTERS – Whether stung by memories of last season’s collapse or simply inspired by the unmatched Pep Guardiola, City began at a pace miserly Jose Mourinho’s United could not hope to deal with.

A one-sided 177^th Manchester derby seemed imminent from the moment that the evergreen Silva lashed in against a bedraggled back line from the brilliant Bernardo Silva’s cutback.

At that stage, the hosts boasted 89-per-cent possession. The passing “carousel” that the watching Sir Alex Ferguson bemoaned at Guardiola’s Barcelona provided the damning statistic; City went 1-0 up with more than 100 passes made, to United’s embarrassing 19.

United attempted, in vain, to string things together through Jesse Lingard.

But there could be few complaints when Aguero lashed high into the goal in the early stages of the second half, from the England man’s concession. Martial’s penalty was never going to shake a side given such self-assurance by their manager.

The 44 passes that preceded Gundogan running in unmarked, late on, to slot in from close range summed up the disparity.

Bizarrely, Mourinho claimed post-match that his side had put in a “positive performance”. The rampant hosts had 17 attempts to United’s six, plus the latter’s spot-kick came giftwrapped from Ederson.

In truth, City seemed to be playing a different sport to the leaden-footed visitors. A 12-point gap in the table is generous, on Sunday’s evidence.

SILVER FOX IN THE BOX – There is something about derby day that brings out the best in Aguero.

The rocket unleashed at the start of the second half both assured City of a deserved victory, and saw him move level with United icon Wayne Rooney on eight as the fixture’s joint-top scorer in Premier League contests.

Rewind two years ago and the Aguero era seemed to be winding towards an end. The signing of Brazil hope Gabriel Jesus and, supposed, demands of Guardiola were to blame.

Well, the Argentina striker continues to stake his claim to be City’s greatest-ever player. He’s now also out on his own with eight goals in the 2018/19 top-flight scoring charts.

His new hair style wasn’t bad, either.

THE BAD

LOSING HIS ED – Ederson’s abilities far transcend the norms expected of a goalkeeper.

The Brazil back-up is more assured in possession than any of three cumbersome midfielders that United put out at the Etihad. Such daring in possession has been key throughout Pep Guardiola’s career, from Victor Valdes to Manuel Neuer.

But, at this rarefied level, the basics cannot be ignored. In successive Premier League matches, his audacity as the ‘sweeper/keeper’ has led to clumsy penalty concessions.

Guardiola now has the tricky job of tempering these excesses, without losing what is uniquely brilliant about his No1.

THE FALLBACK FULL-BACK – It has been a regular source of Mourinho’s ire.

City’s world-record spend on full-backs Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy comes up, again and again, when contrasting the approach of the Manchester rivals.

The Portuguese can be chastised for the excessive negativity on show in this round. But he had a point in the performance of Ashley Young.

A 33-year-old converted right winger was repeatedly caught trying to play awful offside traps with Raheem Sterling. He was highly fortunate not to get punished.

TACTICAL TURNING POINT

ALWAYS THE NEGATIVE – Injury to Pogba – last term’s inspirational match winner in the same fixture – provided Mourinho with a fork in the road.

Robbed of his midfield inspiration, he could either go negative or positive. There was the creativity of Juan Mata, energy of – former City target – Fred, dark arts of Ander Herrera and hulking frame of Marouane Fellaini.

Few were surprised when Mourinho went with the latter pair alongside Nemanja Matic.

Herrera was amateurishly caught three times on the ball in the first half. Limited Fellaini led the way with 48 passes for the visitors – no wonder they floundered.

Odds of the midweek ‘smash and grab’ at Juventus being repeated were not high. Death by a thousand cuts is not the way to rattle City – just ask Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp.

The Red Devils produced just four key passes all match. Bernardo Silva, alone, crafted six key passes – including two assists.

VERDICT

Manchester City: A-

Record-breaking Premier League champions appear to have kicked onto another plain.

That’s now 15 goals in seven days.

United had no chance of living with them on Sunday. It will require something truly special for Chelsea and Liverpool to live with them throughout the season.

Manchester United: D

Mourinho cannot help himself.

Faced with adversity, he went for a dour approach that guaranteed a chasing. There would be no repeat of last season’s miracle at the Etihad.

The pressure is now back on.