Jose Mourinho and Manchester United feared a Manchester City thrashing, says Alan Shearer

Jose Mourinho’s fear of being thrashed by Manchester City translated to his players, according to Alan Shearer.

United were brushed aside by City on Sunday as the Sky Blues set a new unbeaten record and extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to eleven points.

The gap seems insurmountable, despite the fact it is still December, and many pundits have declared the end of United’s push for the title and dubbed City the champions elect.

Mourinho decided to go defensive against City despite starting an attacking trio of Anthony Martial, Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford.

The presence of the strikers did little to inspire an attacking display and Shearer believes Mourinho’s team and tactics sent out a clear message.

‘That’s a fear of being walloped, it is,’ Shearer said on Match of the Day.

‘They know if they went out and tried to take City on in a football match, City would pass through them.

‘And score more than they would have today. The way Mourinho played today, particularly first half, was because he felt he had to play that way because he couldn’t open up against that City side.’

Mourinho raged after the game that the referee should have given a ‘clear penalty’ when Ander Herrera went down in the box with the game at 2-1.

The United boss also felt the result came down to two factors, referee Michael Oliver’s mistake and Ederson’s double save.

The chasing pack now need a complete collapse from City to have any chance of beating them to the title, but Shearer believes the race is over.

He said: ‘I think that’s it [over, the title race]. I think United needed to win.

‘There was a gulf in class today, the way they kept hold of the ball, the way they closed Manchester United down when they lost they ball.

‘I felt as if United played with a fear and United looked an attacking team with the players he had in it, but it was in no way attacking.

‘Particularly in the first half, the number of times they resorted to long balls and no one within 30, 40 yards of Lukaku. There was a gulf in class.’

United and City are straight back in league action with a busy Christmas schedule about to get into full swing.

City take on Swansea on Wednesday while Mourinho will look to get his side back on track against Bournemouth.