Retired Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has said he would have signalled Bruno Fernandes’s equaliser for United against City as offside.

There has been a lot of debate over whether Marcus Rashford was interfering in the build-up to the goal, and Gallagher claims there is enough evidence to say that his movement impeded Ederson and Manuel Akanji:

“As a referee I would have given offside. But it’s difficult as it is a subjective decision. Different people have interpreted it differently. For me, personally, I think the safest decision is offside. I think that for a number of reasons. Firstly, I think Rashford is too close to the ball.”

“I think he impacts on the goalkeeper and he impacts on Akanji’s run. I think he changes his running position. Originally, when he sees the ball he starts moving to the right, and then he goes to the left – towards the ball.”

City will continue to feel aggrieved about the decision and, rightfully so, if Gallagher’s comments are anything to go by.

Of course, that doesn’t excuse the way the Premier League champions capitulated after that, with Rashford going on to score the winner.

Pep Guardiola’s side will have to lick their wounds and recover their composure quickly. They face Tottenham on Thursday night who are themselves reeling from their own derby defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.

It is a great opportunity to get back to winning ways, though, as well as to close the gap on the Gunners, who don’t play again until next weekend when they also face United.