United's limitations without Paul Pogba exposed again as City underline the gulf in class in Manchester

Manchester City effectively ended Jose Mourinho's title hopes in December last season.

They've done it a full month earlier this time around.

A 3-1 win at the Etihad moves the Premier League champions 12 points clear of Manchester United – and no matter what Guardiola's claims are to the contrary; Old Trafford's search for their first title post Sir Alex Ferguson will stretch beyond six years.

United made a fist of it – demonstrating the character that's produced such stirring comebacks in recent weeks – but from the moment Sergio Aguero blasted the ball into the roof of David de Gea's net three minutes into the second half, it always looked a bridge too far for Mourinho's men.

There was to be no repeat of last season's dramatic fightback that left fans in the crowd in tears. This City team is an improvement on even that record-breaking side.

Even without the injured Kevin de Bruyne, they can sweep aside the likes of United, when not even at their best.

The truth is they are too good, which is why United cannot beat themselves up too much for this wounding defeat.

Yes Victor Lindelof and Nemanja Matic can ask questions of themselves after David Silva's opener after 12 minutes and substitute Ilkay Gundogan's 86th-minute strike that killed off any thoughts of a late turnaround.

But City were at least two goals better than their opponents on the day – and but for Ederson bringing down Romelu Lukaku in the second half, resulting in Anthony Martial scoring from the penalty spot, this would have been the most routine of wins.

The gap between the blue and red halves of Manchester is significant.

Even a win for United would have left them a full six points behind their rivals, and such is the ominous form of the champions that it's difficult to see where that difference could be made up, even at such an early stage of the season.

United's hopes always looked slim from the moment Paul Pogba was confirmed absent after picking up an injury following victory over Juventus on Wednesday.

The Frenchman still has his critics – but just as his two goals on this stage last season proved – he is United's most influential force.

In his absence their disconnect between defence and attack was ruthlessly exposed. Particularly when compared with City, who are so fluid from front to back.

The 44 passes that led to Gundogan's goals was a perfect example of a team in total cohesion.

For all the encouraging signs of resurgence from United in recent weeks, the difference between the sides is like night and day.

Time to get a handle on tactical fouling

Check your Twitter timeline for a big game involving City and you are sure to come across numerous posts from fans cataloguing their 'cynical/tactical' fouls.

Guardiola insists he doesn't school his players in such dark arts, while the likes of Gary Neville will tell you that all the best teams have an element of the devil in them.

Whatever your opinion on whether City are guilty of calculated disruption measures, it is an issue referees need to get a handle of.

Fernandinho was guilty of late tackles to break up United attacks in each half.

Each could easily be considered a bookable offence, but referee Anthony Taylor did not brandish a card for either.

So if officials are not willing to clamp down on such offences, the logical next step is for players to take matters into their own hands.

Not by seeking retribution in kind, but by trying to ensure every infringement is spotted by the referee. In other words, making a meal of every little foul, planting a seed of doubt into the minds of the men in black.

Cue the type of rolling around and histrionics English football has for so long criticised other nations for.

Is that really the way we want to see the game go?

No De Bruyne, no problem

City were without their talisman and so were United.

But whereas Mourinho was forced to send on a battering ram in the form of Marouane Fellaini to make up for the absence of Pogba, Guardiola replaced one slick operator with another.

Kevin de Bruyne has missed the majority of the season with ligament damage to both knees. But without him Bernardo Silva has established himself as one of the finest playmakers in the country

For any other side the Portuguese international would be an automatic starter. And such has been his brilliance that City just haven't missed arguably their best player.

He was outstanding again to see off United, dovetailing perfectly with his namesake David and elusively slipping in between red shirts like water.

Guardiola will have a serious headache when De Bruyne eventually gets back to full fitness.