Diogo Dalot was lucky to avoid a red card just 10 minutes into the Manchester derby after a late tackle high on the leg of Jeremy Doku.
The Manchester United right-back was only shown a yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor despite his studs catching Doku just below his knee as the Manchester City winger knocked the ball past him. As the ball bounced up following Doku's touch, Dalot lunged and made a slight contact with the ball, but the follow through of the tackle was a nasty one.
Speaking on commentary for Sky Sports, United legend Gary Neville said: "It's not good. He is very late. If Dalot was going in at full pace, the City winger would have a big problem."
Diogo Dalot
Diogo Dalot was only shown a yellow card by Anthony Taylor
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While former referee Mike Dean stated that Dalot should have been sent off. "100 per cent red card", he said. "At normal speed you can't tell, but the replays aren't good. It's high, across the kneecap. Red card all day."
VAR checked the incident but opted not to recommend an on-field review to Taylor.
The Premier League Match Centre account on X explained the decision making, posting: "The referee’s call of yellow card to Dalot for a reckless challenge was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact deemed to be glancing and not with excessive force."
United made the brighter start of the two teams at Old Trafford, with Harry Maguire missing a sitter from three yards out as he could only direct his free header onto the bar of the open goal.
City endured a couple of nervous moments in possession but gradually got into their stride as the feisty derby started to bubble when Luke Shaw was booked after a late tackle on Rodri.
The hosts continued to create the better chances and Amad Diallo saw a goal disallowed through offside after the Ivorian raced through too early to latch onto Bruno Fernandes' pass.
Just minutes later it was Fernandes' celebration that was cut short after he too rounded Gianluigi Donnarumma to slot home, but a belated flag from the linesman was correctly raised.