TO a scouser the freedom of at least half the city of Manchester.

On a day when local bragging rights were contested by squads consisting of no fewer than 19 different nationalities, it was fitting that an Englishman settled the argument – even if he was born in Croxteth.

Wayne Rooney's tap in just before the interval was the least United's first half dominance deserved after 45 minutes. And even if the traffic wasn't so one way after the break, City will know exactly how far they are from challenging their neighbours on a more consistent level than one-off occasions.

It wasn't just Premier League points and local pride at stake at Eastlands. Following Sheikh Mansour's intervention at the start of the season, this and all future matches will be played out against the backdrop of global domination.

With money comes such expectations – and even if City's starting XI cost only £58.5m compared to United's £126m, that fact will be of scant comfort as they look at the 11-point chasm that separates the sides today.

At this moment in time the difference in real terms is even greater. 

While optimism at City is based on potential and the assumption that the world's greatest players can be lured by money alone – United's foundations are more tangible, such as years of sustained success and the Premier League and Champions League trophies that currently call Old Trafford their home.

City will at least be heartened by something of a second half rally, which began even before Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off, but rarely looked like reaping a goal.

How Sir Alex Ferguson will have enjoyed putting his neighbours in their place.

The United manager has clearly been irked by the machinations at Eastlands, even if he'd never give them the satisfaction of admitting it.

He's seen how money has threatened his own side's dominance over the past 22 years, and will know that if spent right, City's danger is clear, if not entirely present at this time.

The paradigm has been by Chelsea, who have shown best how money can be most ruthlessly exploited in the game.

Back-to-back titles were secured with Roman Abramovich's millions and no shortage of Jose Mourinho's brilliance.

To a lesser extent Blackburn under Jack Walker and Kenny Dalglish proved that money can fulfil the dreams of even the unlikeliest of clubs.

Sheikh Mansour, however, enters a game with a very different landscape to the early 90s. At a time when Champions League and television money has allowed football's top order to cement themselves in the upper echelons. 

When the prospect of traditional giants like Everton and Tottenham threatening to break into the top four is looked upon as a fairytale.

City's task is to dine at the same table as United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, but a statistic that shows they have lost to three of those four clubs on home soil this season, is a stark reminder of how far adrift they still find themselves.

As loathe as any blue blood would be to admit it, their bitter rivals remain the benchmark by which they set their standards. 

It is at such heady heights that City now operate. No longer can they rest upon the moral high ground with which they have consoled themselves for so long, while United were more concerned with the pursuit of silverware.

In truth they lost that when selling out to Thaksin Shinawatra, let alone breaking a British transfer record to sign Robinho.

More money will be spent in January and more still next summer. 

On the basis of yesterday, they'll need it.