Here is Paddy’s verdict on Dean Smith’s Norwich, who played their full part in a rattling Premier League contest that revolved around Cristiano Ronaldo punishing the Canaries’ charity.

• Tim Krul 6

Got both hands to Ronaldo’s swerving long range free kick, but his head coach was in no doubt he should have kept the match-winning hit out.

Replays showed him take a step to his left before springing to his right, as Ronaldo’s set piece burst through a makeshift home wall into the opposite corner. No chance with the Portuguese international’s opening first half brace.

Gathered an overhead kick from Anthony Elanga, and had his angles spot on to paddle away Jesse Lingard’s effort just outside his six yard box. Dropped on Lingard’s dipping volley in the 50th minute. Right place for another Ronaldo close range header on the hour mark. Kicked away Bruno Fernandes’ swerving effort from the edge of his area.

• Sam Byram 6

Tough task in the first half with United probing for overloads through Sancho and Lingard down his flank. Made the right call to step out and intercept Sancho’s intended pass for his team mate, with the Reds looking to counter in the 38th minute.

Lost Sancho in a close quarters duel but Krul was secure in his handling. Blocked Ronaldo’s cross-shot. Attacked Milot Rashica’s corner with a towering leap, but met the ball on the way down.

• Grant Hanley (C) 7

More evidence of his positional sense and excellent reading of the game. Top drawer block to foil Lingard inside the opening five minutes. Repeated it to thwart Sancho.

Rolled a ball into the feet of Teemu Pukki, who skied over on the half volley. Had to bail out Mathias Normann when he lost possession and the ball span towards Ronaldo.

• Ben Gibson 5

Another Premier League shift when he was heavily punished for individual errors. Went to exchange passes with Dimi Giannoulis but Elanga read his intended drag back to square for Ronaldo to open the scoring.

The anguished reaction as the ball hit the back of the Norwich net spoke volumes. A split-second too slow later in the half to allow Ronaldo a free run to the near post, before he powered home Alex Telles’ corner with Gibson trying to scramble to make a challenge.

Got a near post flick to a Rashica corner at the other end but was unable to direct it goalwards. Quality clip to Pierre Lees-Melou in City’s brightest attacking spell prior to the interval. Tracked the run of Ronaldo after the break to cushion a header back to Krul.

• Dimi Giannoulis 7

Adds an attacking dimension when Norwich do enjoy periods on the front foot. Notably with the exchange of passes with Pukki that led to Kieran Dowell’s opener.

Did haul down Elanga for the free kick Ronaldo slammed home. But in the main more defensively assured than against Burnley the previous weekend.

Won a leg race with the Portuguese and then calmly pivoted out of trouble. Squared up by Diogo Dalot but blocked the cross.

Offered width for Normann and carried the ball for Lees-Melou, who wanted too much time on the edge of the area. Victor Lindelof cut out one cross. But did produce a teasing ball for the diving Pukki, who could have drawn City level prior to the interval.

• Mathias Normann 6

Smith feels Normann is gradually getting back into the groove, after his pelvic-related festive lay-off. Certainly adds a quality on the ball. Slipped in Rashica, who should have done better in the 70th minute when his shot was blocked.

Speculative low, swinging free kick veered wide of de Gea’s right hand post. Had Harry Maguire back pedalling to concede a corner from another whipped set piece.

But did not learn from Gibson’s aberration when he coughed up possession in a dangerous area of the pitch, only for Hanley to sense the impending danger and deal with Ronaldo.

• Kenny McLean 6

Departed with what Smith fears is a suspected broken toe. Threaded the ball forward for Dowell to release Pukki for Norwich’s equaliser. A touch fortunate to escape a booking for a scissors challenge on Fernandes.

Carried on where he left off against the Clarets, in terms of his work against the ball. Bottled up Lingard 18 yards out. Triggered another turnover to release Lees-Melou for Pukki’s early chance.

Less assured when there was the prospect to break through the middle of the United backline, but was unable to bring a bouncing ball under his control.

• Kieran Dowell 7

A goal and an assist is the type of productivity Dowell had failed to muster when given previous Premier League chances earlier this season. Seems very comfortable on the right of a more advanced midfield spearhead behind Pukki.

Up in support to slot when Pukki curled a cross to the back post. Returned the favour in the 52nd minute, with the most exquisite reverse ball through two United markers and at just the right time to release Pukki.

Perhaps showed too much confidence when he pounced on Fernandes’ weak pass but tried an ambitious drifting curler from fully 30 yards that cleared de Gea’s bar.

• Pierre Lees-Melou 6

Best moment came three minutes in when he found himself in the type of spaces he relished aganist Burnley to thread a teasing ball for Pukki to test de Gea. Dallied when found by McLean, and saw his show smothered by Maguire.

Tried another ball over the top for Pukki that skipped through to de Gea sweeping up behind his centre backs. Would not have enjoyed the nutmeg from fellow French midfielder Paul Pogba.

Dipping volley in the 78th minute cleared de Gea’s bar.

• Milot Rashica 6

Really looks a threat in a counter-attacking set up, with his pace on the transition a constant problem for United. Drew a superb stop from de Gea in the 56th minute that would have capped a City comeback.

Another rising shot was blocked by Dalot, before his radar went awry in the 89th minute. Spurned a chance to test United’s over-worked keeper prior to half-time when he collected Pukki’s raking pass but turned back infield on a meandering run that eventually earned his side a free kick after a heavy challenge from Pogba.

Smith, however, pointed out his failure to track a run led to the corner that Ronaldo despatched for his second goal.

• Teemu Pukki 7

A 10th Premier League goal of the season to cap a performance that drew fulsome praise from Smith. Denied by de Gea’s right shoulder in the third minute, when he latched onto Lees-Melou's pass into the channel. But got his revenge when he collected from Dowell to draw the Spaniard and guide his right footed finish past de Gea via his near post. Another assist into the bargain.

Shift however was perhaps typified by picking up a ball in his own area, as he helped defend a corner, then veering around Sancho before a pinpoint long pass free Rashica.

If you want to be ultra-critical, slashed at Hanley’s cut back and failed to guide Giannoulis’ cross on target at full stretch.

But without him in this Norwich side, the threat level would be non existent.

Subs:

• Billy Gilmour (for McLean, 73) 5

Deep free kick dropped over Hanley’s head. Lovely clip took out two United defenders for Byram, who then proceeded to come back into traffic.

• Przemyslaw Placheta (for Dowell, 74) 5

Lacks composure or the awareness of his other team mates in the final third. Slipped through with a minute of normal time left but was desperate to get the ball onto his left to shoot, allowing Maguire to close the door.

• Jonathan Rowe (for Lees-Melou, 82) n/a