Walker strike gives City 1-0 win at Sheffield United

The right-back, who came through the ranks at the Blades, struck midway through the first half with a superb long-range strike.

It was a deserved goal for a Manchester City side which dominated the first half, and it could have added another but for an excellent save by Aaron Ramsdale from Ferran Torres’ header.

Ramsdale did well again in the second half when he dived at full stretch to keep out a Riyad Mahrez free-kick.

But from then on the visitor struggled to find a second goal that would kill the game off and United should have capitalised when substitute John Lundstram fired just over from Sander Berge’s cross.

That was as close as the Blades came as City took its third league win of the season to move into the top half of the table.

Sheffield United remains winless and in the relegation zone with just one point from its first seven games. After he played a starring role in the 3-0 win against Marseille in the Champions League in midweek, Walker was described by Guardiola as being in the best form of his City career. While City’s displays have been patchy this season, the consistently high-quality performances from Walker have been a big positive.