Manchester: In a dominating display, which included a brace in goals by Erling Haaland, Manchester City inflicted an embarrassing 3-0 defeat on their rivals from across the town.
City manager Pep Guardiola, commenting on the double strike by Haaland who scored 52 goals in all competitions last season said: “He could have scored four, he moves incredibly well in the box, we are lucky to have him. I know he scored 50 goals and people expect him to score 70. He’s a top, top player.”
The man-of-the-match award went to City’s Bernardo Silva and Guardiola had praise for him too. “He is an incredible player. He loves to play at Old Trafford. He has played here as a false No 9 for us in the past. He is so intelligent. Everybody loves him and he played another exceptional performance. He is one of the best players I’ve seen in my life for how intelligent he is.”
He added: “The players always give their best for our fans and we know what it means for them. The first ten minutes we lost easy balls but after that we took control.”
City opened the scoring after 26 minutes with a penalty which came from a free-kick incident when Rasmus Hojlund held back Rodri and brought him down. There was no stoppage until the referee was called by VAR to go and check. He then returned and pointed to the spot. Haaland took the spot kick and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with his 12th goal of the season.
United missed a chance to level the score on the stroke of half-time. Marcus Rashford made a fine pass to Hojlund but the striker’s shot was palmed away by Ederson. Haaland too missed a chance to double his score in added time in the first half when his header went straight to the hands of Andre Onana.
But just four minutes into the second half, Haaland doubled the lead. After a fine move involving two passes, Rodri found Julian Alvarez who then sent the ball wide to the left for Jack Grealish. The winger advanced further before feeding Bernado Silva whose perfect cross to Haaland, unmarked at the back post, was easily headed in past Onana.
United made substitutions but it made little difference as City had control on the game with their opponents heading toward their fifth defeat in their first ten league games – their worst return at this stage in 37 years.
Haaland missed a chance for his hat-trick in the 71st minute by a save from Onana. Finally, with ten minutes of normal time remaining, it was all over for United as City added a third goal. Rodri’s firm drive could only be pushed away by Onana and Haaland having got the ball crossed it to the left for Phil Foden to tap into the net.
United manager Erik ten Hag said: “The three games before this we won and the spirit is very good. We are on the way up. When injured players are back, we will be stronger.”
English Premier League results on Sunday:
West Ham 0 Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 51)
Aston Villa 3 (McGinn 17, Diaby 49, Lockyer 62-og) Luton 1 (Martinez 83-og)
Brighton 1 (Ferguson 26) Fulham 1 (Palhinha 65)
Liverpool 3 (Jota 31, Nunez 35, Salah 77) Nottingham Forest 0
Manchester United 0 Manchester City 3 (Haaland 26-pen, 49, Foden 80)
Played on Saturday
Chelsea 0 Brentford 2 (Pinnock 58, Mbeumo 90+6)
Arsenal 5 (Nketiah 28, 50, 58, Vieira 88-pen, Tomiyasu 90+6) Sheffield United 0
Bournemouth 2 (Semenyo 22, Billing 76) Burnley 1 (Taylor 11)
Wolves 2 (Lemina 36, Hwang 71) Newcastle 2 (Wilson 22, 45+4-pen)
Friday
Crystal Palace 1 (Ayew 90+4) Tottenham 2 (Ward 53-og, Son 66)
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
