Phil Foden’s second-half double ensured the Manchester derby spoils went to the Blues as Manchester City came from behind to beat Manchester United at Etihad Stadium.
In a game packed with international stars, it was two local boys who provided the key moments.
The visitors had led through Marcus Rashford’s sensational eighth-minute strike from 30 yards.
However, in a contest City dominated, Foden took centre stage.
There was an element of controversy over his second-half equaliser. United boss Erik ten Hag was booked for arguing his side should have had a free-kick in the City half when Rashford went down under Kyle Walker’s challenge.
Contact was minimal and within seconds Foden had curled a superb shot past Andre Onana.
Foden then burst away from a static Casemiro to score City’s second from Julian Alvarez’s return pass before Erling Haaland rounded off the scoring in stoppage time, after the Norwegian earlier missed an open goal from barely three yards.
It was City’s sixth win in seven meetings against United, who suffered their 11th Premier League defeat of the season.
More importantly, the result means Pep Guardiola’s side move to within a point of leaders Liverpool before next week’s trip to Anfield.
United remain in sixth in the table but are now 11 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa and six behind Tottenham, in what could turn out to be a fifth Champions League spot, having played a game more.
Rashford on target but United well beaten
In the build-up to the game, Rashford spoke extensively to Players’ Tribune, detailing his journey through poverty to United’s first team and underlining how much the club means to him.
It was thought-provoking stuff and very personal.
Bruno Fernandes rolled a pass perfectly to the England striker, who did not have to break stride as he launched a shot into the City net off the underside of the bar.
Rashford could easily have had another but, in attempting to control a bouncing ball as Fernandes lifted a pass towards him beyond a static home defence, he succeeded only in heading it into the ground, which allowed Kyle Walker to get back and snuff out the danger.
That turned out to be United’s last realistic opportunity as they attempted to repel wave after wave of City attacks.
New co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has said he wants to knock City off their perch. On this evidence, he is going to need a pretty long ladder to attempt that.
