Manchester City 6, Manchester United 3
Hat tricks by Erling Haaland and Phil Foden ensured that City won the Manchester Derby much more convincingly than the 6-3 scoreline suggested.
United could not retain possession of the ball, bad both their full backs booked within the first quarter of the game and seemed totally unable to stem the blue tide that rolled in relentlessly and their three second half goals (one by Antony and a brace for Anthony Martial) seemed like nothing more than belated consolations.
A brace each by Phil Foden and Erling Haaland put United to the sword before half time while Kevin De Bruyne’s brace of assists took him past club legend David Silva’s tally of Premier League assists – with 94 goals in 218 appearances the Belgian did it in 91 games fewer than Silva.
Haaland completed his hat trick in the second half – recording his 17th goal for City in 10 appearances and becoming the first player in Premier League history to score a hat trick in three successive home games – scoring his third hat trick in only his 8th appearance in the competition.
And Haaland even set up Foden for his own hat trick as City routed United – the Blues becoming only the third side in Premier League history to have 2 players score hat tricks in a game after Jermaine Pennant and Robert Pires for Arsenal and Jamie Vardy and Ayoze Perez for Leicester City.
It was the first time that United had conceded two hat tricks in a top flight game since 1930 at Old Trafford against Huddersfield Town.
And throughout all 188 editions of the Manchester Derby to date there had never been a competitive one in which as many has eight goals had been scored.
Antony and Anthony Martial – with his first league goals in a year – reduced with deficit after the break but United’s energy – like the Reds fans – had been ebbing away since half time.
Embed from Getty ImagesManchester City hit 4 past Manchester United in first half rout
City were without Ruben Dias, John Stones, and Rodri and made three injury enforced changes to the side that beat Wolves before the international break.
Nathan Ake partnered Manuel Akanji in the Manchester City defence while Ilkay Gundogan came in to midfield while Kyle Walker returned from his own injury to play at right back.
Marcus Rashford was fit enough to lead the line for Manchester United and he started while Cristiano Ronaldo was on the bench as the Reds made only one change from their last game in Moldova against Sheriff.
And the game started as thunderously as the noise inside the Etihad – with Diogo Dalot booked within two minutes for a nasty foul on Jack Grealish.
City pressed relentlessly and quickly and Haaland’s header was cleared while De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva saw their follow-ups cleared as United defended desperately.
And after 8 minutes Foden turned Bernardo Silva’s cross into the United net from 8 yards out – his fourth goal of the season and first in a Manchester Derby.
The Reds were up against it from the start but got a shot on goal through Christian Eriksen after Kyle Walker’s error allowed the ball to run through for a tenacious Marcus Rashford.
Lisandro Martinez brought down Grealish who seemed to have more licence to run with the ball, the free kick was in front of the D and Gundogan’s set piece came off the outside of the post as it curled back in.
Foden whipped a shot wide of the post after Grealish recovered a lost ball and cut it back into the box with United unable to keep possession of the ball.
Grealish saw his shot saved, with Silva’s follow-up blocked and De Bruyne having his dipping shot tipped over the bar by David De Gea.
Raphael Varane had to have treatment on his ankle after a shot by Foden appeared to turn it but the respite was shot as City scored from the corner with Erling Haaland heading past De Gea from 6 yards after evading Eriksen and out jumping Scott McTominay.
Tyrell Malacia tried desperately to keep it out but referee Michael Oliver indicated the ball had crossed the line to the delight of watching City fans.
And it was mayhem after 37 minutes after De Bruyne teased a cross into the left channel and Haaland got there first before Varane to stab it in from 4 yards out.
Victor Lindelof was immediately brought on to replace Varane who appeared to be suffering, while Sergio Gomez was brought on to replace the injured Kyle Walker at the same time.
City were pushing for a fourth and got it before half time after De Bruyne picked out Haaland and the big Norwegian unselfishly set up Phil Foden who finished from 6 yards after galloping into the box.
Manchester City finish off United as Reds fans leave and Sir Alex Ferguson looks on
Sir Alex Ferguson was pictured in the director’s box with a face like thunder as City celebrated their fourth goal before half time – the second time this season the Reds had this level of deficit this season.
Foden drew another save from De Gea after the restart as City looked for another but it was United who pulled one back after 56 minutes, a brilliant solo effort curled past Ederson from outside the box by Antony who had been a passenger in the first half.
It was the second Premier League goal in as many games for the Brazilian.
Casemiro and Anthony Martial were introduced to the action by Erik ten Hag – they replaced Rashford and McTominay after 59 minutes.
Haaland hit the side netting after he was released but made up for it in City’s next attack as he turned Sergio Gomez’ left wing cross past De Gea for his hat trick.
And it was his third hat trick in as many home Premier League games for the big Norwegian and his dad Alfie was pictured celebrating the fact immediately afterwards.
And the unselfish Norwegian set up Foden for his hat trick with a neat through ball.
Riyad Mahrez, Cole Palmer, Julian Alvarez, and Aymeric Laporte replaced Foden, Grealish, Gundogan, and De Bruyne as Pep Guardiola made a quadruple change with 15 minutes to go.
And with the foot off the gas, United scored twice to give a scoreline a slightly more respectable look – Anthony Martial tapped in the rebound after Ederson failed to hold Fred’s shot with 6 minutes to go.
But Alvarez failed to restore City’s 5 goal lead after Palmer set him up while Laporte headed wide of the target from the corner.
And United earned a penalty in the last minute – Martial rattled the ball into the top corner after he had been brought down by Joao Cancelo but the game was long gone.
GOALS – Manchester City 6, Manchester United 3
Man City 1, Man Utd 0: 8. Phil Foden opened the scoring with a fine goal from 8 yards out – turning Bernardo Silva’s left wing cross into the net after a quick fire passing move.
Man City 2, Man Utd 0: 34. Erling Haaland rose highest and beat Scott McTominay to a Kevin De Bruyne corner to head past David De Gea. Tyrell Malacia tried to clear the ball off the line but Michael Oliver indicated it was a goal.
Man City 3, Man Utd 0: 37. Erling Haaland stabbed the ball ferociously past David De Gea from 4 yards out after meeting Kevin De Bruyne’s delicious curling low cross into the box.
Man City 4, Man Utd 0: 44. Erling Haaland turned provider and slid the ball across the area to Phil Foden who had galloped into he area to meet it with a fine finish from 6 yards out after Kevin De Bruyne had started the move.
Man City 4, Man Utd 1: 56. Antony reduced the deficit with a superb curling shot from outside the box that beat Ederson.
Man City 5, Man Utd 1: 64. Erling Haaland turned the ball past David De Gea after meeting Sergio Gomez’ left wing cross for his hat trick – his third Premier League hat trick in as many home games.
Man City 6, Man Utd 1: 73. Phil Foden was set up for his hat trick by Erling Haaland with a neat through ball.
Man City 6, Man Utd 2: 84. Anthony Martial reduced the deficit by reacting first after Ederson failed to hold on to Fred’s shot by netting from 6 yards out.
Man City 6, Man Utd 3: 90+1. Anthony Martial thrashed the ball into the top corner from the penalty spot after he was tripped by Joao Cancelo in the box.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 6, Manchester United 3
Man City: Ederson, Walker (Gomez 41), Akanji, Ake, Cancelo, Gundogan (C) (Laporte 75), Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne (Alvarez 75), Foden (Mahrez 75), Grealish (Palmer 75), Haaland
Man City Subs not used: Ortega, Carson, Dias, Lewis
Goals: Foden 8, 44, 73; Haaland 34, 37, 64
Man Utd: Dea Gea, Dalot, Varane (Lindelof 40), Martinez, Malacia (Shaw 46), Eriksen, McTominay (Casemiro 59), Antony, Fernandes (C), Sancho (Fred 70), Rashford (Martial 59)
Man Utd Subs not used: Heaton, Ronaldo, Pellistri, Elanga
Bookings: Dalot 2 (foul on Jack Grealish); Malacia 24 (foul on Phil Foden); Fernandes
Goals: Antony 56; Martial 84, 90+1 pen
Referee: Michael Oliver