Rodri opened the scoring for the defending champions after latching on to Phil Foden’s clever feed and firing into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the area.

City had to wait for a second goal due to the Blades’ crowded defense, but Foden was the provider once more when it arrived midway through the second half, with his low cross dispatched by Julian Alvarez.

Before kick-off, City, who won the Fifa Club World Cup before Christmas, exhibited all five of the major trophies they had won in 2023 on the pitch.

It served as a reminder to their opponents that they are still the team to beat this season, as did the return of Kevin de Bruyne from a hamstring injury.

The Belgium midfielder did not play this time, but the sight of him warming up on the touchline in the second half elicited raucous applause from the home crowd.

Sheffield United fans, on the other hand, had little to cheer about, as their team provided little in attack other than a flurry of chances immediately before the break.

As soon as City scored their second goal, defeat was inevitable, and Chris Wilder’s side remains bottom of the standings and without an away win this season.