Manchester City kept up the pace at the top after coming from a goal down to see off Manchester United 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
The home fans got a shock inside the opening 10 minutes with Marcus Rashford’s stunning strike but having dominated almost from the first whistle - City got their goals in the second half. Man of the match Phil Foden scored twice with Erling Haaland adding a late third.
After City pinned the visitors back in the opening few minutes United took the lead out of nothing with eight minutes on the clock. Bruno Fernandes took down Andre Onana’s long ball and laid the ball off for the on-rushing Rashford to fire an unstoppable strike in off the underside of the bar.
The goal stunned the Etihad but didn’t change the pattern of play. Pep Guardiola’s men kept coming, almost monopolising possession.
Foden was denied one-on-one when played through a vacant United backline before the stadium was stunned into silence right on half-time by Erling Haaland’s miss of the season contender. A lovely Rodri pass found the head of Foden who guided it into the path of Haaland and, with an open goal gaping, he somehow lifted the ball over from a couple of yards out.
The hosts finally got their goal 11 minutes into the second half with Foden cutting inside and firing a fine strike into the top corner beyond Onana. Erik ten Hag was booked in the aftermath, feeling Kyle Walker had fouled Rashford as he broke down the left just seconds before.
City continued to control things and the turnaround was complete 10 minutes from the end of the 90 when that man Foden played a neat one-two with Julian Alvarez and slotted beyond Onana.
The icing on the cake came in the first minute of added on time, Rodri robbing Sofyan Amrabat of the ball on the edge of the box and feeding Haaland who did the rest one-on-one with Onana.
Here’s how we rated City’s players.
1. Ederson 7
Could do nothing about Rashford’s goal and was a spectator for large parts of the contest, until a fine tackle to deny Garnacho. Photo: Could do nothing about Rashford’s goal and was a spectator for large parts of the contest, until a fine tackle to deny Garnacho.
2. Kyle Walker 7
United may feel he fouled Rashford before Foden’s first goal but it would have been soft. Stuck to his task well down the right. Photo: United may feel he fouled Rashford before Foden’s first goal but it would have been soft. Stuck to his task well down the right.
3. Ruben Dias 6
Held off by Fernandes for the opener and then slip nearly let in Rashford in the first half. Photo: Held off by Fernandes for the opener and then slip nearly let in Rashford in the first half.
4. John Stones 7
So advanced early on that he had a penalty shout and continued to see a lot of the ball. Photo: So advanced early on that he had a penalty shout and continued to see a lot of the ball.