There has been a slight end of empire feel about Manchester City and Pep Guardiola this season, but appearances can deceive. Without ever being quite at their best, City comfortably did enough to ensure they headed back across the Pennines having silenced those who interpreted the sight of Guardiola sitting alone in the dugout well before kick off, staring moodily at the empty stands, as confirmation of a manager in crisis.
Instead, that mantle passes to Chris Wilder. His side have one point from seven games and after taking the top tier by storm last term appear to have developed full-blown second-season syndrome. The electronic signs warning visitors entering Sheffield to maintain “very high alert” relate to coronavirus levels, but they could apply equally to the danger confronting the Blades.
