“We are the champions … of the world” from the Queen standard heralded Manchester City before a victory achieved with the kind of purring confidence that has marked Pep Guardiola’s glittering seven-year tenure. They are up to third, two points behind the leaders, Liverpool, courtesy of goals in either half by Rodri and Julián Álvarez, Sheffield United pummelled all afternoon like so many visitors to this stadium are.
A pleased Guardiola referenced the last result before the Club World Cup triumph. “I remember after Crystal Palace [2-2 draw] one colleague said you could be 12 points behind Liverpool,” he said. “The future is a happy new year and three days off and, after, Huddersfield. We have 27 million games in one month, three games the next month.”
