Erling Haaland beat his fist to the ground in frustration as he was unable to keep the ball in play. The Manchester City No.9 got up and gestured towards Jack Grealish with anguish on his face after playing the ball to his teammate had not ended in a goal.
You could be forgiven for thinking the home side were struggling if taking that snapshot in isolation. When placed in the bigger picture, it was a reaction that summed up the chasm between the two Manchester clubs that shows no signs of closing despite grand overtures from Manchester United about a fresh start and £225.4m spent to back their new manager out.
Haaland's frustration came with City 3-0 up before half-time but hungry for a fourth, Pep Guardiola's champions bringing all the energy and verve (and quality) to this game as they repeatedly pummelled a lifeless United. The away end was visibly emptying by the time, a few minutes later, Haaland was supplying Phil Foden for the fourth goal to pile on the embarrassment for Erik ten Hag and his players.
Also read: Man City player ratings as United destroyed
United have beaten Arsenal and Liverpool since their Brentford humiliation and there are enough signs to suggest they could be on a credible path but this was the most brutal reminder yet for the new manager that he is not in Kansas (or the Eredivisie) anymore. City outplayed and outworked their opponents from the first minute and - to the delight of a packed Etihad - did not let up in a ferocious first half.
Jack Grealish set the tone within seconds of kick-off, knocking the ball past Diogo Dalot on the left flank before being clumsily taken out to earn the United right-back a yellow card. Moments later, two Scott McTominay blocks in the six-yard box and a David de Gea reaction save had somehow combined to prevent an opening goal.
It feels like a while since Grealish's last appearance at this ground, when he was hooked in the second half after a struggling display against Dortmund. The former Villa man grew in confidence after his early goal at Wolves days later and getting Dalot booked only encouraged him further to torment the United defence; in the 17th minute, his dazzling footwork saw Lisandro Martinez booked for cleaning him out close to goal.
Ilkay Gundogan hit the post from that free-kick, but by then City had already made their dominance count. Phil Foden carried the ball from right to left in the eighth minute, before slipping the ball on and darting into the box where he emphatically finished past De Gea.
It said plenty about both sides that City were able to enjoy such a dominant opening despite being without the injured Rodri and seeing very little come from Kevin De Bruyne or Erling Haaland, yet the longer their grip on the game lasted it was inevitable those two stars would get involved. As it happened, United helped them along the way.
English football has been asking how to stop the Norwegian phenomenon who has made a mockery of the Premier League's reputation as the best in the world, and one way to try is to mark him at corners. Instead, De Bruyne swung the ball in and Haaland beat three opponents to the ball to claim his 12th league goal of the season in just his eighth game.
Within a flash, No.13 had arrived as one of those extraordinarily long legs connected with a De Bruyne ball in behind Raphael Varane to increase United's misery. And that frustration at Grealish's missed chance barely lingered either before the No.9 teed up Foden for his second of the game to cap off an incredible half of football.
This is how Haaland has changed City. While they only had a goal to their name, some fans were still anxious as they remembered all the times under Guardiola when they have battered United before being sucker-punched. With one of the most clinical strikers in world football, that angst is gone.
Antony's fine strike early in the second half ruined City's clean sheet and gave the away supporters that had stayed something to cheer about, yet inevitably Haaland was not done. One chance went begging and then just after the hour mark he completed his hat-trick when he smashed home Sergio Gomez's cross.
Haaland has 14 league goals after eight games - the only City player to score more in 38 last season was De Bruyne with 15. He has become the first player in Premier League history to score three consecutive home hat-tricks.
He is redefining the league before our eyes. And just to prove his all-round game in the team is improving, he picked up his second assist of the game to feed Foden for his hat-trick.
Anthony Martial picked up a consolation goal off the bench after City had made four subs and then converted a penalty when Joao Cancelo went through the back of him, yet the 6-3 scoreline was still as emphatic as it gets.
The victory was useful to kickstart a crucial run of games for City before the World Cup, moving them to within one point of Arsenal at the top of the table and - perhaps more significantly - ten clear of Liverpool. They are the only undefeated team in the league and performances like this will only enhance their credentials as the team everyone has to beat.
However, this was a day to savour for City fans, particularly those who saw their team go 13 years without a derby victory after a 5-1 win in 1989. "We want ten" came the chant from the delirious supporters, who could take extra joy from the fact that both goalscorers were also boyhood Blues.
Alfie Haaland Poznaned with fans in the hospitality seats while Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill watched on with glum faces and Roy Keane tore his old side apart on punditry. Times have changed in Manchester, and the future has rarely looked more Blue.
READ NEXT:
