Ruthless Erling Haaland Helps Man City Destroy Man United in The Derby

Haaland and Foden helped themselves to three goals apiece as City stopped United’s recent progress in its tracks with an emphatic victory at the Etihad.

Manchester City might not have usurped Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table but they lay down a significant title marker regardless by thrashing United at the Etihad.

Phil Foden got the sky blue party started inside the opening 10 minutes with a well-taken strike before Erling Haaland made it two with a towering header.

Haaland scored his second of the game soon after with a predatory back post finish from a raking Kevin De Bruyne cross and Foden made it four before half-time after being teed up by the Norwegian.

United made more of a game of it in the second half and briefly threatened to make life difficult for their hosts when Antony scored his second goal for the club but Haaland restored City’s four-goal advantage with his third league hat-trick of the campaign. Haaland’s 14 league goals is double the number of the league’s next top scorer Harry Kane.

Nine minutes after Haaland had secured another treble, Foden completed his hat-trick before substitute Anthony Martial scored twice late on to add a veneer of respectability to the scoreline for Erik ten Hag’s side.

Here’s how the players on both sides rated:

Player ratings
Man City

Ederson – A spectator in the early exchanges before racing out of his goal to sweep up at the first sign of danger. Might have done better to stop Antony’s strike given how far out he was and then made a bizarre up-and-under clearance moments later from an over-zealous back-pass by Gundogan. Not his most assured display 5

Kyle Walker – Missed the flight of the ball which led to United’s first half-chance of the game for Eriksen. Forced off before the break due to injury 6

Manuel Akanji – Demonstrated his awareness and pace with a couple of timely interceptions as United sought to counter. His arrival after an indifferent end to his spell with Borussia Dortmund raised eyebrows but he looks a natural fit for this City side 6

Nathan Ake – Surprisingly selected ahead of Ruben Dias but in truth, Pep Guardiola could have pulled a fan out of the stands to play at centre-back such was the dominance that City enjoyed in the opening 45 minutes. Looked accomplished in the middle and at left-back once Aymeric Laporte had been brought on 6

Joao Cancelo – Initially selected at left-back before shuffling across to his natural side after Walker had to be replaced. Not his most influential offensive performance and conceded a penalty with a needlessly clumsy challenge on Martial late on 5

Ilkay Gundogan – Identified as a potential weak link pre-game due to being redeployed as a midfield anchor in Rodri’s absence but was barely tested as United struggled to make any inroads into City’s half. Smacked the outside of the post with a free-kick and was authoritative and assured in a deeper role 7

Kevin De Bruyne – Stung De Gea’s palms with a ferocious effort early on and forced him into another save with a wicked dipping effort from the edge of the box. Created both of Haaland’s first-half goals with a corner and typically unstoppable cross from the right wing. The De Bruyne to Haaland combination has so far yielded four league goals, more than any other duo in the division. You suspect it won’t be long until they reach double figures 8

Bernardo Silva – Picked out Foden with a precise pull back for City’s opener and was typically involved from midfield without standing out as much as his attacking colleagues 7

Phil Foden – Took his chance to score the game’s first goal brilliantly, sweeping a first-time finish into the top corner, doubled his tally with a tap-in to bring up a half-century of goals in sky blue and then completed his hat-trick with another superbly executed finish. How England could do with unlocking this Foden in time for the World Cup 9

Jack Grealish – Has been accused of playing too safe since joining City but was anything but on this occasion, driving at United’s defenders whenever in possession. There was no goal or assist to show for his endeavours but it was one of his best displays for the club 8

Erling Haaland – Utterly inevitable. Barely had a touch until rising like an Olympic high jumper to double City’s advantage and then made it three by stretching one of those go-go-gadget legs to reach De Bruyne’s cross. Grabbed his third hat-trick and 14th goal of the season in the second half and also setup two of Foden’s treble. Three goals and two assists on his first Manchester derby. Unplayable 10

Notable subs:

Sergio Gomez – Grabbed an assist off the bench for Foden’s third 6

Man Utd

David De Gea – Required to make an unconventional stop to deny De Bruyne three minutes in and denied the Belgian again with a finger-tip stop. Not really culpable for any of City’s goals 5

Diogo Dalot – Looked uncomfortable from the first minute and was cautioned after less than two minutes for a mistimed challenge on Grealish. Didn’t get tight enough to Gomez as he teed up Haaland for his hat-trick goal but was better in the second half 4

Raphael Varane – Hurt his ankle when blocking a Foden shot and it proved to be costly as City scored from the resulting corner while he was pitchside receiving treatment. Was then caught out as Haaland made it three and made his exit soon after to be replaced by Lindelof – 5

Lisandro Martinez – Didn’t do anything noticeably wrong and yet was part of a defensive unit that shipped six goals 5

Tyrell Malacia – A nervy defensive performance from the left-back who was booked in the first-half for fouling Foden after he had wriggled away from him. Beaten to Haaland’s cut-back by Foden for the fourth and did not re-emerge for the second half 3.

Scott McTominay – Made a vital block to deny Silva’s shot in the opening five minutes but was poor on the ball, frequently gifting possession to City. Has so far managed to keep Casemiro out of Ten Hag’s starting XI but will struggle to keep his spot for next weekend’s trip to Goodison Park 3

Christian Eriksen – Failed to track Foden’s run and was punished emphatically when the winger rattled in the first goal of the game and lost Haaland for the second, although quite why he was marking him in the first place is anyone’s guess. A rare off day for the Dane 4

Antony – Followed up his debut goal against Arsenal with a spectacular strike from long range against his Brazilian international colleague Ederson. Showed some nice touches in the second half as the game became more stretched and has enjoyed a promising start to his United career 7

Bruno Fernandes – Until he was booked for a display of petulance towards Michael Oliver 10 minutes from the end, you could have been forgiven for forgetting that Fernandes was even playing. Not all his fault, but he was completely and utterly anonymous 4

Jadon Sancho – Has been one of United’s better and more consistent performers in the opening weeks of the Ten Hag era but had barely any chance to show what could he do before being taken off to jeers from the home fans 4

Marcus Rashford – Deemed fit enough to start but looked well off the pace and barely had a kick before being replaced by Anthony Martial just before the hour mark 4

Notable subs:

Anthony Martial – Brought on ahead of Ronaldo and helped himself to two goals including a confidently dispatched penalty into the roof of the net 7.