Joe Hart, Raheem Sterling and Bacary Sagna were named in the starting XIs for the Three Lions and Les Bleus respectively with Eliaquim Mangala on the bench.
Following the atrocities in Paris, this game was arguably the focus of the world with England fans showing their unity with the French by joining in a rousing rendition of La Marseillaise.
Then, after an impeccably observed one minute silence for those tragically killed in the French capital, both teams served up an entertaining first 45 minutes during which Hart had little to do and Sagna was kept busy by team-mate Sterling throughout.
Though there were few clear-cut chances, Tottenham’s Dele Alli struck home a superb goal on 39 minutes to break the deadlock. Hart was replaced by Jack Butland at the break.
Then City winger Sterling provided the perfect cross for United’s Wayne Rooney to volley past Hugo Lloris just three minutes after the re-start to make it 2-0 to England in front of more than 71,000 fans.
Sterling was replaced by former Liverpool team-mate Adam Lallana on 68 minutes - the two will meet again in the Premier League on Saturday - after a productive display by the City #7.
There was no further scoring and no appearance by Mangala on a night when football brought two nations closer together.
In South America, Nicolas Otamendi played the full 90 minutes as Argentina finally got off the mark in their World Cup Qualifying group.
La Albiceleste had drawn two and lost one of their opening three games and were again without Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and Lionel Messi. Martin Demichelis was an unused sub as Biglia’s 20th-minute goal settled a feisty affair.
Meanwhile Fernandinho came off the bench for the closing stages of Brazil’s qualifier against Peru in Salvador.
Goals from Costa, Augusto and Filipe Luis ensured a comfortable night for the 2014 hosts.
