Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and his teammate, Phil Foden bagged hat-tricks at as Manchester United were humiliated in the derby at Etihad Stadium.
Haaland’s rampage this season continued as he made it 17 goals in 10 games since his move from Borussia Dortmund and Phil Foden also scored a treble as City closed the gap on pace-setters Arsenal to one point.
This was a brutal reality check for United after their recent improvement, as the reigning Premier League champions ran riot to illustrate the gulf in class between the teams.
City’s lightning start was rewarded when Foden swept home Bernardo Silva’s cross after eight minutes before Haaland inevitably joined the action with a header from a corner 11 minutes before half-time.
As United subsided, Haaland slid in a third from Kevin de Bruyne’s perfect pass then turned provider to set up a simple finish for Foden before the break.
United’s new signing Antony struck a superb goal from 25 yards to pull one back but it only provoked City to up the tempo again, Haaland thumping home his third from Sergio Gomez’s cross then again showing he can be creator by setting up Foden for City’s sixth.
Haaland’s third put him in the record books following hat-tricks at home to Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.
United’s substitute, Anthony Martial’s late goal for United was greeted in near silence, as was his added-time penalty, on a day of embarrassment for United and manager Erik ten Hag and one of elation for City and Pep Guardiola.
Ten Hag’s first derby will give him serious concerns as his recent works to improve the team following sloppy start to the season has just been perfectly undone by the rioting City.
Cristiano Ronaldo watched the game from the bench while United captain, Harry Maguire was overlooked in favour of Victor Lindelof after an injury to Raphael Varane.
