Overview
- Manchester City lost 2-0 at Old Trafford, with Erling Haaland subdued and withdrawn late in the match.
- Haaland has one goal in his last seven appearances despite a prolific overall season to date.
- Pep Guardiola renewed complaints about how referees officiate Haaland, highlighting a Carabao Cup incident where a Newcastle goal was disallowed after an almost six-minute VAR review for offside interference.
- Guardiola said he needs to keep playing Haaland because of squad constraints, noting the striker’s heavy 2,480 minutes and the absence of a senior deputy while Omar Marmoush is at the Africa Cup of Nations.
- Attention on officiating carried into the derby, with Stuart Attwell—VAR for the Newcastle decision—on VAR duty again for the United match.