Once more into the breach for Harry

MAGNIFICENT MAGUIRE & CO MAKE CASE TO KEEP CARRICK PERMANENTLY

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WITH his knee bloodied after another tangle with Erling Haaland, Harry Maguire limped back into his own penalty area to help defend the free-kick he had conceded.

Moments later, he was producing a towering header to set up the counterattack which ended with Bryan Mbeumo giving Michael Carrick a winning start to his Manchester United audition.

The dream soon became a reality as Patrick Dorgu doubled the delirium before Old Trafford was treated to the symbolic sight of Haaland’s misery being ended by Pep Guardiola.

For United, that was just one beautiful moment on a beautiful afternoon.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe was in town and one match into his tenure, Carrick has already made a compelling case to get the gig for next season.

Seriously.

Maguire's performance magnificently typified the response Carrick got from the United players. They were more aggressive, more determined, more passionate, more committed than a City team that - at times - looked as though they did not believe a serious title race was still in progress.

United were fantastic, but City were a pale imitation of themselves.