Manchester City’s Rodrigo celebrates their victory on the English Premier League soccer match between Sheffield United and Manchester City at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, England, on August 27, 2023.| Photo Credit: AP

Manchester City moved to the highest of the Premier League desk with a 2-1 win at Sheffield United on Sunday after Rodri scored an 88th-minute winner to safe their third victory of the season.

With the scores degree at 1-1 and the clock winding down, the ball got here to Phil Foden within the United field and though the English midfielder had no management over it, Rodri stepped in to energy a half-volley into the highest nook.

City supervisor Pep Guardiola was not on the touchline at Bramall Lane having undergone again surgical procedure.

But with assistant supervisor Juanma Lillo deputising for Guardiola, they received the job accomplished regardless of seven minutes being added on as the house facet looked for an equaliser.

Champions City are the one group to have an ideal begin to the season as they moved on to 9 factors, two forward of West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

"Generally I thought we played really well today. It was a lot closer to what we wanted than the score line suggested," Lillo stated.

City striker Erling Haaland missed a first-half penalty given for handball as his spot-kick hit the publish.

But the Norwegian made amends simply after the hour-mark when he opened the scoring with a close-range header from a cross by Jack Grealish.

"The penalty could have changed everything had that gone in. We saw the team were very stable and constantly looking towards goal," Lillo added.

"From the second half we really raised the rhythm, we were able to win the ball back a lot quicker. We were able to use those new spaces that were created from winning the ball back quicker... We could've scored more before the first went in."

But United equalised within the eighty fifth minute when the hosts capitalised on a defensive error from Kyle Walker's botched backheel clearance and Jayden Bogle fired an angled shot by way of the group and beat City keeper Ederson.

Just as United regarded to have gained their first level on their return to the highest flight, Paul Heckingbottom's facet had been left heartbroken when Rodri fired residence the winner, a objective created by Walker in opposition to his former membership.

United are seventeenth within the standings, nonetheless with out a level from three video games, however they had been applauded off the pitch for his or her effort in opposition to final season's treble winners.

"Listen, I'd prefer the point rather than any pats on the back. You've got to play the perfect game to beat City," Heckingbottom stated with a wry smile.

"Even though City had a lot of the ball we felt like we had a degree of control of where that ball was... It just adds a bit more salt in the wounds."