Pep Guardiola had feared seeing Manchester City’s title defence kicked into the long grass but instead they cut yet another opponent down to size.
Such was the smothering inevitability that it is difficult to see anything beyond a fresh coronation next Sunday, or perhaps even sooner if their mercurial local rivals are prepared to perform a neighbourly favour. Two wins in the next week will guarantee a familiar scene of celebration regardless of Sunday’s events at Old Trafford.
