Premier League

United's derby performance shows there is an authority to Ten Hag's instructions - this has led to his team challenging for the title...

[Liverpool](https://theathletic.com/football/team/liverpool/) and [Chelsea](https://theathletic.com/football/team/chelsea/) are faltering dramatically. [Scott McTominay](https://theathletic.com/football/player/scott-mctominay-rXernJIkIW9dTOdt/) and Martinez. [Raphael Varane](https://theathletic.com/football/player/raphael-varane-fqIirRcGC4muo1f5/). [Lisandro Martinez](https://theathletic.com/football/player/lisandro-martinez-lZNyZmtnsD6xHZZP/) is only out of the side because he went and won the [World Cup](https://theathletic.com/football/world-cup/) with [Argentina](https://theathletic.com/football/team/argentina/). [Erling Haaland](https://theathletic.com/football/player/erling-haaland-UqdITFAwdmIrBQfd/) when City were 1-0 up, seemingly wanting more dynamism from his runs in behind. [Tottenham](https://theathletic.com/football/team/tottenham-hotspur/) have been patchy. [Kevin De Bruyne](https://theathletic.com/football/player/kevin-de-bruyne-TX7pFeb0aiHzuvjI/). [Manuel Akanji](https://theathletic.com/football/player/manuel-akanji-Yp2KW0dxtNBRNgBB/) also shuffled along, leaving a gap for Fernandes to run into. [League One](https://theathletic.com/football/efl-league-one/), but winning is a habit and can translate to the Premier League. [Bruno Fernandes](https://theathletic.com/football/player/bruno-fernandes-qr6VV7sJwbrbqULf/) and [Christian Eriksen](https://theathletic.com/football/player/christian-eriksen-IdnyhU0AWBdF3utd/) for the two [Marcus Rashford](https://theathletic.com/football/player/marcus-rashford-xgQlXcNj79jwXiD4/) chances in the first half. [Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City: Statistics, formations, xG](https://theathletic.com/football/game/manchester-city-vs-manchester-united/IUgRfLMa3GGlWkuh/) [Erik ten Hag on Man Utd title hopes: ‘The fans may dream but we are not’](https://theathletic.com/4090655/2023/01/14/erik-ten-hag-manchester-united-title/) [Manchester United](https://theathletic.com/football/team/manchester-united/) will never be 5,000-1 — the odds you could get on Leicester at the start of the 2015-16 season — to finish atop the English pyramid, but equally, nobody would have picked Erik ten Hag as a potential title winner in his first campaign in charge, especially after such a disastrous start.