Erling Haaland and Phil Foden both struck hat tricks as Manchester City sent another ominous warning to the rest of the Premier League with a 6-3 embarrassment of rivals Manchester United at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon.
City were quickly into their work as Erling Haaland had a header cleared away from goal but only as far as Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian, however, and Bernardo Silva were both denied from close range as Scott McTominay and David de Gea made important blocks.
The hosts took the lead inside ten minutes as Foden made it 1-0. The England international started the move from the right and moved into the box untracked to divert Silva’s cross in at the near post.
United were overrun by City’s superior quality throughout the first half, only registering two shots on target through Christian Eriksen’s unthreatening scuff and Bruno Fernandes’ ambitious long shot, and Pep Guardiola’s side were quickly 3-0 up as Haaland began to make inroads.
The Norwegian monster netted twice in four minutes, with both assists coming from De Bruyne.
He first headed in from a corner, the ball crossing the line despite Tyrell Malacia’s last-ditch effort, before the former Borussia Dortmund forward stretched to meet De Bruyne’s cross at the back post.
Haaland turned provider as City made it 4-0 before half time. It was Foden who grabbed his second as the hosts broke with purpose, Haaland clipping to the 22-year-old to strike in similar fashion to the third strike.
City allowed United more of the ball at the start of the second half and that tactic cost them a goal as Antony reduced the arrears in spectacular fashion.
The Brazilian collected Eriksen’s cross-field pass and cut inside to fire a venomous strike from outside the area into the bottom corner beyond the outstretched Ederson.
That strike mattered little, however, as Haaland converted substitute Sergio Gomez’s cross to make it 5-1, becoming the first player to score a Premier League hat trick in three successive home games.
United’s pain was compounded when City grabbed a sixth, with Foden joining Haaland in the hat trick club by finishing off his teammate’s pass.
City let their dominant authority slip somewhat in the second half as a sloppy save from Ederson bounced into substitute Antony Martial’s path to pull another back. And when Joao Cancelo brought the Frenchman down in the area and he converted into the top corner, it seemed like United had salvaged some kind of respect from the showing.
However, City’s…
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