by At least it wasn’t another abject humiliation. That was the consolation for Manchester United. In four of the previous six derbies – and that did not include the FA Cup final at the end of last season, which Manchester City won 2-1 – United had been taken apart in horrendous fashion. Their supporters were even delighted when Marcus Rashford saw them take an early lead with a furious long-range drive.
It was yet another victory, another occasion when the gap to the top was laid out in painful detail – as always. United’s ambition was limited to fighting to stay close and trying to get something on the counter. It’s not what they should be about and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the new minority owner, knows it.
Related: Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United: The Premier League – live reaction
United would be on target, City starting what could be a decisive month and the result they needed to answer Liverpool’s win over Nottingham Forest from Saturday and it was Phil Foden who made the difference.
Foden scored twice, the first in a contest with Rashford, the second composed to make it 2-1 and take him to 18 goals for the season; best career. But it was also the details, such as his tracking back to rob United substitute Antony late on that had Pep Guardiola wildly applauding. Foden was on another level.
Erling Haaland would add the third in stoppage time and it was certainly a good way for City to recover for next Sunday’s clash against Liverpool at Anfield. They will also play Arsenal here at the end of the month. They have now won 17 games and lost two of their 19 games in all competitions. Who can stop them?
Ten Hag had precious few options with his starting XI bringing his injury list, unless you count Sofyan Amrabat at left back as one or Antony at right wing as another – but Ten Hag didn’t. And so it was Victor Lindelöf at left back, Jonny Evans at center half and the surprise was Bruno Fernandes in a false nine role. There would be an even bigger one in the eighth minute.
It’s fair to say that Rashford drew attention to himself by giving an interview on Thursday in which he strongly suggested anyone question his commitment to United – given his poor performance in the midweek FA Cup win at Forest. Nobody was really doing that. They were asking instead why he had such a poor season.
Rashford needed to show something and he did with one of the best goals of his career, an almost unbelievably sweet strike from 25 yards that rose ferociously, slotting in from under Ederson’s cross. The goalkeeper barely saw him. It was Fernandes who created the chance, after standing up to Rúben Dias after a high ball from André Onana.
Rashford mixed in the bad, too, during a frenetic opening when United looked threatening at the break. He might have scored again when Dias slipped and Fernandes played a quick ball. Rashford had no one in front of him on the halfway line but his first touch was poor, allowing Kyle Walker to tackle the goal. It was worse to follow when Rashford started air-kicking and then fell over after Fernandes crossed. The angle was not bad for Rashford. It went down as a good chance.
Guardiola did as expected. He asked John Stones to step up in midfield while giving plenty of license to Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva in central areas. City dominated possession, they pressed high and created chances before the interval, United repeatedly throwing bodies in front of shots. Onana was great too.
The goalkeeper’s handling was superb from United’s side and he made three huge saves in the first half, two to deny Foden, the second when the City midfielder was clean. The other saw him drop to his left to keep out Rodri’s volley.
When Haaland barely made it credible in stoppage time in the first half, the thought came that it could be United’s day. Foden headed square from Rodri’s floated ball and Haaland was all alone at the point-blank range, leaping to ease the volley into the empty net. He could not keep it down. We need to see replays to check. Yes, City’s goalscorer really did ski.
Guardiola suggested calm. He would come to his team in the second half. United’s beleaguered backline certainly couldn’t stay away. The equalizer was another thing of beauty, Foden cut inside Lindelöf, without any red shirts stepping out for him, the strike of utmost purity. Foden shimmered with menace. Now he had his moment from outside the box.
United wanted a foul from Walker on Rashford who had previously been in possession, which would have been soft. What was clear was that City had plenty to do after that.
The pattern was set from the first whistle – City pressing, United trying to dig in, hoping to land the counter. But as the game progressed, there would be nothing else. The second half was a siege at the back of United.
Ten Hag introduced Willy Kambwala at right-back, moving Diogo Dalot over to left-back to deal with Foden, Lindelöf moving to centre-half. So Guardiola moved Foden towards the other side and it was from there that he scored again.
Foden exchanged passes with the substitute, Julián Álvarez, and saw the open space, the territory was only a formality. City deserved the extra goal when Rodri robbed Amrabat as a substitute. Haaland was clear and he was not going to miss this time.
