Updated PL Table: City win Manchester derby

A look at the updated EPL table after Manchester City emerged victorious at Old Trafford.

Even though it was the fourth game of the season, the first Manchester Derby was crucial to the EPL season. With both teams getting off to 3-0 starts, something had to give when Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola met as Manchester’s managers for the first time. But in the end, Guardiola’s tactics proved to be too much to overcome; the 2-1 score is hardly indicative of how the game really went.

It was a thoroughly entertaining game throughout, and with Manchester City getting the win, they are now out in front as the best team in the league. Here’s how the top half of the EPL table looks after the first Manchester Derby:

With that win, Guardiola improves his record to 8-3-6 over Jose Mourinho. Knowing Mourinho, though, he’s not going to take this loss lightly, and some drastic changes could be coming in Manchester United’s next game, particularly at the back.

But just because they’ve lost this game, that doesn’t mean the title race is over. After seeing Leicester City defy the odds last year, there’s nobody who can stake a claim as the favorites just yet. But if Mourinho wants to avenge this loss, he will have a full five months to prepare for their next fixture, which should give him enough time to make some tactical improvements.

For the rest of the Premier League, this win is a clear message. Manchester City was missing Sergio Aguero, and still dominated the majority of the match. If they can play this well without having their best lineup, they should be the team to beat.

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While Guardiola is a world-class manager, many wondered whether he could successfully develop to the Premier League. But if this game has proven anything, it’s that the Premier League needs to develop to Guardiola.