When the whistle signalled the fourth goal, the Manchester City players huddled in a celebratory circle of togetherness. The United players were detached and defeated.
"We want five," demanded the City supporters in the south stand. A banner read, 'Not in my lifetime' - a reference to Sir Alex Ferguson's quote about the prospect of City ever finishing above United. A second 5-1 in his lifetime was briefly possible. Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart played at full-time and City fans crowed about tearing United apart.
United have come full circle again. The chasm between them and City 22 points, just as it was at the end of the David Moyes season. Just like in that season, City triumphed 4-1 at the Etihad.
