Man Utd player ratings v Man City: Three score 7/10 but one given 4/10 in 3-1 derby loss - gallery

Manchester United's impressive start petered out at the Etihad as Manchester City won another derby.

Manchester United were on the losing side in Sunday's Manchester derby, with Pep Guardiola's champions winning 3-1 at the Etihad.

It was a game that United led at the break thanks to Marcus Rashford's excellent early goal, but in the end Manchester City's superior talent proved decisive as Phil Foden netted a brace and Erling Haaland grabbed his customary derby goal in the second period.

City started excellently as United looked somewhat overawed by the raucous crowd. The Red Devils managed just one shot in the opening 45 minutes, yet remarkably it resulted in them taking the lead after eight minutes. Andre Onana’s long kick downfield was collected by Bruno Fernandes, who turned held off Ruben Dias and laid the ball back to Rashford. From 25 yards out, the forward struck an unstoppable effort beyond Ederson, with the ball clipping off the crossbar en route.

It was a lead United held until the break, with Onana repeatedly called into action to keep out two shots from Foden and a scruffy Rodri attempt that looked destined to end up in the corner before the goalkeeper got two hands to the ball. But the biggest chance fell to the one man City wanted it to drop to: Haaland. Foden headed the ball across to the striker on the verge of half-time and, somehow, from just a few yards out, he side-footed it over.

City had amassed 18 shots and 75 percent possession before the break, but it was United who led at half-time in what was a disciplined, gritty display from Erik ten Hag’s side, who implemented a robust low block.

It was no surprise that when the equaliser finally came, it was via a shot from distance, as Foden cut in off the City right and powered his shot beyond Onana. After the sheer dominance in the first period, City’s creative sparked waned as the second half continued.

It needed a moment of individual brilliance to find the breakthrough, something Foden has habitually provided this season. The no.47 switched wings in the latter stages and it took just a few minutes for him to provide the decisive moment as he exchanged passes with Julian Alvarez and then drilled the ball into the bottom corner.

From there, United could offer no real response. An energy-sapped Red Devils were merely spectators as City knocked the ball from side to side and grabbed a third in injury-time as Sofyan Amrabat was robbed on the edge of the box and seconds later Haaland coolly passed the ball into the bottom corner. At the end, City's fans went through their usual repertoire of songs as the away end rapidly emptied.

Here’s how we rated the United players…

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