"They’re well drilled. Everyone knows their position and they’re a tough team to break down, but luckily enough I came up with the goal.
"I’m enjoying my football. We don’t sit back and defend. We want to score three or four, but it’s great to get the clean sheet on the board as well.
"Defensively we’ve done fantastically well, especially Ruben [Dias] since he’s come in. Whoever steps in, they’re all going to put in top performances.
"There was always going to be a hangover [from last season]. It’s just what we’re dealing with at this moment in time."
Our defense looks stable now. Ruben, Walker and Laporte are class. Nice work by Cancelo playing on the left , they were targeting his wing for most of their attacks but overall he did well. Kyle Walker MOTM💙 #WNRH
"(The goal and form) It’s testament to him. He seems to be enjoying it even more, if he keeps the concentration level that he has now we’ll see the Kyle Walker that everyone knows he can be."
Sterling causing all sorts of problems on the left.
His pass inside the area goes through Egan's legs. Torres nips in and gets their ahead of everyone else. His first-time effort from five yards out saved instinctively by Ramsdale.
"Today is interesting. Chris Wilder done a fantastic job.
"They play three at the back but they are so expansive in how they play, I remember managing against Chris when he was at Northampton and its great to see him managing in the Premier League.
"He finds players who fits into his system and many players who wouldn’t fit in elsewhere.
"A lot have played in League One and the Championships and how Chris Wilder gets the best out of them is amazing."
"Kyle Walker has been outstanding - not just this season but since lockdown. I think he has been our best player without a shadow of a doubt.
"He’s not always played in his natural position at right back. He can bomb forward but he has adapted his game as well and can tuck in an inverted position in a back three and he is a huge outlet for us going forward."
Pep Guardiola has reiterated his happiness at being City manager.
And the boss says he is focused on achieving more success in order to ensure he can stay beyond the end of the season.
Pep has overseen a glittering period at City, winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and three League Cups in four full years in charge.
His contract runs out at the end of the current campaign, but he says his only desire is winning further silverware and earning an extended stay at the Club.
“I am incredibly happy here.
“I am delighted to be in Manchester and hopefully I can do a good job this season to stay longer.”
Here's a snippet from Pep on Rodri from yesterday's press conference...
"He is improving a lot. That is normal. He understands the situations better, he is starting to read what is happening better. He can solve it with his incredible energy. All of us have the feeling he is making an incredible step forward with the way he plays and his personality. He started as a double holding midfielder against Wolves with Fernandinho, now he is playing on his own. He is playing really well."
Commentary By @
Two HUGE finals
Don't forget, City play Everton in the Women's FA Cup final at Wembley tomorrow.
Kick off is at 2.30pm and we will have full coverage here on ManCity.com, including our We're Not Really Here LIVE show.
And then on Monday, it's the FA Youth Cup final. Our impressive Academy lads play Chelsea at 7.30pm.
It never stops for City fans.
Pep on link to Barcelona job
"I said many times, my period as manager of Barcelona is over.
"There are incredible people who can be in charge, like Koeman.
"It’s over. I will go back to wacth games but it is done.
"I am happy here and have desire to do well. This is most important thing.
"Now there are elections in Barcelona and hopefully they can choose the right person for the board."
Pep on Laporte and Dias
"Both play really well.
"We've had to rotate centre-backs in recent years.
"We need everyone - with these games, we cannot just play these two."
Pep on Walker
"His goal helps us a lot but not just the goal. The fact his concentration, he understands every day better what he has to do.
"His physicality, he plays almost all the minutes.
"He scored against a team he loves. He’s a Sheffield United supporter.
"He always supports them in locker room - I remember their play off final! Come on Sheffield!
Pep satisfied
"We played really well.
"We struggled to score goals with the chances we create - 16 shots, eight on target, that's a lot against this team.
"When we couldn't do it, they then send long balls and crosses and they had chances, but we are satisfied.
"It’s the third game in seven days, all away. We are in a better position now.
"Two more games before international break and we move on."
Walker full of praise for CBs
"They’re well drilled. Everyone knows their position and they’re a tough team to break down, but luckily enough I came up with the goal.
"I’m enjoying my football. We don’t sit back and defend. We want to score three or four, but it’s great to get the clean sheet on the board as well.
"Defensively we’ve done fantastically well, especially Ruben [Dias] since he’s come in. Whoever steps in, they’re all going to put in top performances.
"There was always going to be a hangover [from last season]. It’s just what we’re dealing with at this moment in time."
Walker on non-celebration
"My mum and dad live here, so if I’d celebrated they'd have got stick"
"And I'm a Sheffield United fan, so I couldn’t celebrate."
More Walker reaction
"I’m happy to get on the scoresheet and get three points, which I said was the most important thing."
Walker reaction
"It’s the football we play – we don’t sit back and defend, we want to score more, which is a nightmare for us defenders at time!"
FT: Sheffield United 0-1 City
Big three points and the culmination of what feels like a very important week.
Feel we could have scored more - but we've largely controlled things and looked very stable at the back.
Lots of positives from the last few days.
COME ON, CITY!
3
Three minutes of time to be added on.
Stand firm
PLEASE
MOTM?
Walker my Man of the Match.
I mean, how do you even do that?
Ederson with a quite unbelievable pass from inside his own area to Sterling on the edge of United's 18-yard box.
Ramsdale comes rushing out, just gets there ahead of Sterling and clears with his head.
Dancing Queen
Lovely quick feet from Bernardo, there. Cut in from the right and got a shot away.
If that goes in, it's a very good goal.
Class play
Superb from Bernardo, who cuts inside and fires off a shot - Ramsdale saves.
Break
Foden breaks away, tries to find Sterling on the edge of the 18-yard box, but Stevens is there to clear.
10/10
Walker superb AGAIN today.
What a player.
City change
Foden on - Torres off
FODEN KLAXON
Foden coming on.
Nerves
I am officially not enjoying this now.
Nerves are shot.
PASS MASTER
What an outside-of-the-boot pass from De Bruyne!
Puts Sterling clear down the left and he drifts into the box, but somehow Egan and the 'keeper end up claiming it.
Offside flag
Ederson saves from Brewster - but he was offside anyway. Wouldn't have counted.
Uh oh
Berge nutmegs Cancelo and pulls the ball back to the edge of the area to Lundstram. He fires it over the bar and should have done better.
My heart can't take this.
Head up
De Bruyne gives it to Mahrez inside the box. He tries to go past a few players but runs down a blind alley.
There were passes on, there.
Warning shot
Berge does well down the right and fires a very dangerous cross into the box - Ederson claims it. Just.
That was dangerous.
We need some impetus.
Flatter than the first half
Would like to see us up the ante a little bit, here.
We're a little flat.
Sheffield United change
Ampadu off - Norwood on
Second needed
Would expect Sheffield United to start pumping balls into our box as this games goes on. We'll need to stand firm.
PLEASE LET'S GET A SECOND.
Solidity
I don't want to speak too soon and curse the lads when we've only got a slender lead, but we've looked really stable defensively again today.
Still 0-1
Mahrez takes it, low to the Ramsdale's right, but the 'keeper makes another good save.
Dragged down
Stevens drags back De Bruyne just outside the area.
Free-kick given. Dangerous area.
CLOSE
Walker puts the burners on and flies down the right, gets to the byline and pulls it back to De Bruyne - but the Belgian's effort flashes just wide.
That was a chance!
Opening
Torres tries to lift the ball over Ramsdale, who had rushed out of his goal.
Can't quite lift it high enough.
He's such a bright player, Torres.
Sterling work
Sterling lively. Takes it past Baldock and hits one, but Basham blocks.
Back to it
Okay second half under way
More to come?
Sterling's class in the build up to the goal so impressive, as was Walker's strike.
Torres has caused problems again. De Bruyne keeps us ticking with his quality.
Looking good.
SWP on Walker
"(The goal and form) It’s testament to him. He seems to be enjoying it even more, if he keeps the concentration level that he has now we’ll see the Kyle Walker that everyone knows he can be."
Half-time: Sheffield United 0-1 City
Good half. Ramsdale has kept home side in it.
We need another and we can definitely improve, but that was a very decent 45 minutes.
World-class pair
Sterling and De Bruyne are, quite simply, world-class footballers.
Lucky to have them.
Warning signs
Another sight of goal for the home side - Baldock's cross a good one but no one there to meet it.
Chance
Cancelo goes past Berge and finds Torres inside the area.
The forward volleys towards goal but it's well blocked by Stevens.
Impressive
We've been dominant. Add this first half an hour or so to Tuesday's near-perfect display and the signs are good.
Only one goal in it, though, and the home side have had a few little sighters in the last few minutes.
And with the pitch like it is, anything can happen.
We need another, that's for sure, but impressed thus far.
Coulda been worse!
Very dangerous corner kick from United - it flicks off Walker's head and he knew little about it!
Free-kick
De Bruyne tries to hit his free kick low under the wall - Ramsdale makes the save.
Centurion
Walker's goal comes on his 100th Premier League appearance for City.
Class
Sterling's pace and trickery key in the build up - but what a fine finish from Walker.
That is very much deserved, given how well he's been playing this season.
COME ON!
WHAT A GOAL
Walker scores a belter! Low, powerful drive into bottom corner.
WHAT A SAVE
Sterling causing all sorts of problems on the left.
His pass inside the area goes through Egan's legs. Torres nips in and gets their ahead of everyone else. His first-time effort from five yards out saved instinctively by Ramsdale.
Tough to breakdown
Sheffield United = very organised.
Test the 'keeper
Rodri with a powerful drive from 35 yards - 'keeper parries away.
Worth an effort, given these awful conditions.
Decent
Solid start. Look stable defensively and we're moving it freely.
Eye-of-a-needle ball
Egan makes a vital touch to stop De Bruyne's throughball reaching Sterling.
He'd have been clean through.
Chance
Real chance.
De Bruyne's corner gets flicked on by a United defender, Laporte meets it with a left-footed half-volley, but it goes wide.
Probably a better opening than he realised.
Fluid forward line
City prodding and probing. Sheffield United defending in numbers.
Sterling on the left, Mahrez on the right - but plenty of fluidity in that front three.
Torres central
Torres playing centrally again and leading the line.
Credit to him. He's 20 and has only ever really played in wide areas during his senior career.
He's doing so well.
Positive
We've started well, here.
Chance!
Torres header saved superbly.
Good ball in from Cancelo, Torres met it well - very good save by Ramsdale.
Slick
Wet surface means the ball is fizzing around.
McBurnie clatters into Dias early doors.
A real let-him-know-you're-there challenge.
Dias is tough, he'll be fine.
Kick off
We're off. Players took the knee and now we're under way.
Here we go
Teams are out.
Crazy 24 hours
What a 24 hours for James Trafford.
Kept goal last night as we made it to the FA Youth Cup final.
And now he's unexpectedly thrust onto the first-team bench.
Dickov expects difficult game
"Today is interesting. Chris Wilder done a fantastic job.
"They play three at the back but they are so expansive in how they play, I remember managing against Chris when he was at Northampton and its great to see him managing in the Premier League.
"He finds players who fits into his system and many players who wouldn’t fit in elsewhere.
"A lot have played in League One and the Championships and how Chris Wilder gets the best out of them is amazing."
🚨 TEAM NEWS UPDATE 🚨
Carson injured in the warm up - Trafford replaces him.
Dickov on Marseille win
"There were signs at Marseille that we are getting back to our best. And if we win our game in hand and we will be two points behind at the top."
SWP on KDB
"I always found extra energy the more confident and happier I was playing.
"And playing in front of the fans I got even more energy.
"Kevin’s been doing it without the fans and is playing at such a high level week in, week out it seems like he’s never going to get tired."
Dias and Laporte
We seem to have landed on a top-class centre-back pairing.
I don't want to go too early, but the signs have been very, very good.
Both good on the ball and their styles complement each other beautifully.
Very keen to watch them continue their partnership today.
Torres is bubbling nicely!
Dickov in praise of in-form Walker
"Kyle Walker has been outstanding - not just this season but since lockdown. I think he has been our best player without a shadow of a doubt.
"He’s not always played in his natural position at right back. He can bomb forward but he has adapted his game as well and can tuck in an inverted position in a back three and he is a huge outlet for us going forward."
Exciting team
So much quality in that starting XI.
As Walker has just said, we need to build on Tuesday's display.
That was the City we all know.
Pep on Sheffield United
"We know their quality. The position in the table is what it is but we know the quality they have. We don't have any doubts.
"We are at the beginning of the season and they will get results in the future."
Pep on Torres
"It's a new position for him but he did it well.
"We try again."
Pep on Marseille win
"It was one game. We have to be more consistent to be sure we are on the right path."
Walker on Tuesday's win
"It was back to the normal City that everyone likes to watch and we like to play. Hopefully we can do that today.
"It’ll be tough – I know, I watch them regularly."
Kyle Walker on 100 PL appearances for City
"It’s a massive club and to get to 100 in the time I have is a credit to myself
"I feel good. I feel good playing so many games, stronger than ever. Hopefully we can get three points today."
And here's the home side
🚨 TEAM NEWS 🚨
City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Torres, Mahrez, Sterling
Subs: Carson, Stones, Ake, Gundogan, Zinchenko, Foden, Garcia
Team news incoming
Teams will be confirmed in five minutes.
COME ON
We're Not Really Here
Don't forget, Paul Dickov and Shaun Wright-Phillips will be the guests on our We’re Not Really Here matchday show.
That gets under way right here at 11.30am!
Marseille display
I thought Tuesday's performance was our best of the season.
The way we moved the ball around was absolutely expert.
Pace, ideas, ingenuity...and a desire to win the ball back when we didn't have it.
There was little Marseille could do.
More of the same today, please!
Laporte and Dias
Anyone else excited about that duo?
Foden our future
The form of Phil Foden is a major plus point for us at the moment.
He is developing into exactly what we all thought he could: a top-class creative force.
His energy, willingness to make runs, quality on the ball and goal threat are all clear.
He's been superb this season and I can't wait to continue watching his development.
Tough assignment
Sheffield United have taken just one point from six matches so far this season - but their last outing saw them push Liverpool close at Anfield.
They looked more like the team who finished ninth last season.
It won't be easy. The weather is awful, they will make things hard. But we have plenty of quality.
Here are the highlights!
FA Youth Cup
What a result for the Academy last night, by the way.
Through to the FA Youth Cup final after a 4-0 win over Blackburn.
Well in, boys!
Pep on injury situation
“They [our injured players] are getting better.
“Now we have a training session, so we will have an update after.
"Gabriel is getting better, Nathan is getting better, Mendy hasn't started training with the squad.
“Sergio is progressing. Still not available to train with us but progressing.”
Marseille special!
Pep wants to earn City stay
Pep Guardiola has reiterated his happiness at being City manager.
And the boss says he is focused on achieving more success in order to ensure he can stay beyond the end of the season.
Pep has overseen a glittering period at City, winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and three League Cups in four full years in charge.
His contract runs out at the end of the current campaign, but he says his only desire is winning further silverware and earning an extended stay at the Club.
“I am incredibly happy here.
“I am delighted to be in Manchester and hopefully I can do a good job this season to stay longer.”
Team news
Teams confirmed at 11.30am - but here's what we know at this stage
- Aguero, Fernandinho and Mendy are definitely out
- Ake and Jesus could be in line for a return
Hello!
Good morning, everyone!
The weather is vile but City have a job to do.
Three points would provide some warmth going into the weekend.
Bring it on!
Here's a snippet from Pep on Rodri from yesterday's press conference...
"He is improving a lot. That is normal. He understands the situations better, he is starting to read what is happening better. He can solve it with his incredible energy. All of us have the feeling he is making an incredible step forward with the way he plays and his personality. He started as a double holding midfielder against Wolves with Fernandinho, now he is playing on his own. He is playing really well."
And happy Halloween, of course!
Looks like it will be wet and windy at Bramall Lane
And on Monday, we have an 11 FA Youth Cup final to look forward to....
It's a big weekend for City with the Women's FA Cup final tomorrow to look forward to...
Pep's warning....
We've plenty of pre-match build-up for you ahead of the game (which kicks off at 12.30pm), so let's get this show on the road
City are in action in just a few hours, so our coverage begins now
It's match day!
Good morning if you are in the UK and Europe and hello wherever you are in the world...
Other games that day
As it stood