Two Manchester City midfielders were absolutely pivotal to City’s famous win over Manchester United

Manchester City got heroic performances from every single player on the pitch in their 1-0 win over Manchester United yesterday following Phil Foden’s red card in the 23rd minute at Old Trafford. City’s win saw them make it four wins from four in the Premier League and it was their fifth consecutive win in all competitions to start the 2026-27 season. Yesterday’s win in the Manchester derby came off the back of a great team performance as Enzo Maresca’s side showed their fight, team spirit and character. In midfield, Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez were superb. They both shone in completely different ways in midfield to set Manchester City on their way to a famous derby win.

Elliot Anderson did the work of two midfielders to help Manchester City see off Manchester United.

The impact that Elliot Anderson has already made in midfield at Manchester City has been tremendous. He has taken to his role in Enzo Maresca’s side like a duck to water. Yesterday, the pressure was on Anderson to perform against Manchester United. He had publicly proclaimed City as the ‘Kings of Manchester’ when he was unveiled as a City player. This has upset the United faithful. When Phil Foden saw red in the 23rd minute yesterday, Anderson’s importance to his team grew. He rose to the occasion and put in a powerful display in midfield.

Elliot Anderson did the work of two midfielders when Manchester City were reduced to ten men. He covered every blade of grass on the Old Trafford pitch. Anderson was strong in a challenge and time and time again he disposed a United player in midfield, and in the same motion he turned away from the duel with possession.

As per statistics sourced from SofaScore, Elliot Anderson won 7/10 of the ground duels in he was involved in. He recovered possession on 6 occasions. He almost made two interceptions. Anderson’s game out of possession was superb. It was crucial to Manchester City’s derby win. In possession, Anderson oozed class. When his team needed him to stand up at Old Trafford, he did exactly that yesterday.

Once again, Enzo Fernandez showed his class and fight in a hostile environment.

For all of the industry that Elliot Anderson displayed yesterday, Enzo Fernandez was equally superb in Manchester City’s engine room, playing in a completely different role. Following Phil Foden’s dismissal, Enzo Fernandez was tasked with providing attacking support from midfield, a role he fulfilled superbly well.

Whenever the occasion arose, especially in the second half, Enzo Fernandez was a constant threat to the Manchester United defence with his runs from midfield. His ability to help City keep possession and remain as an attacking threat was pivotal to Manchester City’s famous derby win.

The Argentinian midfielder also hit the post when Senne Lammens saved a shot of his onto the post. If that shot went in it arguably would have put the icing on the cake of City’s victory. Also, Enzo Fernandez almost provided a goal with a clever free kick which Erling Haaland dragged wideas Enzo Maresca’s side pressed for a second goal.

There is another aspect of Enzo Fernandez’s play that helped Manchester City beat their arch-rivals yesterday. When the chips are down, Enzo Fernandez is always up for the fight. This was impossible to miss yesterday as City needed to display this trait to prosper yesterday. Manchester City’s record signing is a fighter. This trait forms a key part of his game and on the biggest of stage, Enzo Fernandez was in the thick of it yesterday.

Final thoughts.

Every Manchester City player went above and beyond for their team’s cause at Old Trafford yesterday. It took a team effort for Enzo Maresca’s side to triumph over Manchester United, playing with ten men for over 70 minutes. In midfield, Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez were pivotal to City’s win. They played vastly contrasting roles in City’s engine room and both made massive contributions to Manchester City’s famous victory in the 199th Manchester derby.