When Pep Guardiola arrived in the Premier League, there was still something of a power struggle in this city. It was tilting in Manchester City’s favour, no doubt, but not decisively. Seven years, four league titles and a slew of broken records later, the most damning thing about derby day destructions like these for Manchester United is that they do not come as much of a surprise any more and, if anything, they are all the more predictable now that their rivals have a player like Erling Haaland.
Haaland’s third consecutive hat-trick in home league games – the first player in the Premier League era to achieve such an astonishing feat – set up a 6-3 win. Phil Foden also hit the first three derby goals of his career and the margin of victory was only softened by two late Anthony Martial strikes. The scale of City’s dominance might have been expected but will be no less painful for Erik ten Hag, who saw United’s mini-revival of late extinguished in emphatic style.
