The biggest games are brilliantly instructive. They sort the players who might be handy against Stoke or West Bromwich Albion from those capable of winning you games at nose-bleed altitude against the very best.

Manchester United, who had recruited underwhelmingly since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, still employed too many standard Premier League players to match the majesty of Manchester City in the first-half on Saturday.

City’s confident, incisive passing brought a halt for example to all those claims that Marouane Fellaini is true Premier League-winning class, or that Daley Blind is an authentic centre-back.

Simply, Pep Guardiola started at a higher base than Jose Mourinho at United, because City’s squad were crying out for a manager whose stylistic inclinations were in tune with their individual talents.

The best examples: David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, who caused havoc in United’s central midfield area with their lacerating passes and darting moves. As this storm went on around him, Fellaini – useful, but ultimately limited – found his natural level again as a player who will serve a purpose in most league games but not win you one against the new City.