Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scored hat-tricks to fire champions Manchester City to a rampant 6-3 thrashing of local rivals Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.
City’s football was slick, incisive and ruthless in its execution as Haaland claimed his third hat-trick in eight league games and Foden netted his first Premier League treble on a humbling afternoon for United.
After a disappointing start under Erik ten Hag this season, with the Dutchman tasting defeat in his first two games, a run of four successive league wins had promised better times ahead but United were brought firmly back to earth by the neighbours.
No City player had scored a hat-trick against their bitter rivals since Francis Lee in 1970 and in the space of 90 minutes two men achieved the feat. He also became the first player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick in three consecutive home games.
“We scored six goals, what can I say, it’s amazing,” Haaland told Sky Sports. “To win at home, score six goals, it’s nice.“You can feel it all the time. You can see the passes we give each other. We always want to go forward and to attack. It’s what I love about the team.”
Foden grabbed the first inside eight minutes, becoming the first English City player to score in a home league Derby against United since 2006, sweeping home Bernardo Silva’s low cross, before Haaland headed his first in the 34th minute to put City in command.
Haaland has settled seamlessly into the Premier League and the Norwegian struck again in the 34th minute on the stretch before Foden added the fourth three minutes later. Big-money signing Antony curled a stunning strike into the net early in the second half to give United faint hope of a remarkable comeback, before Haaland fired home his 17th goal of an incredible season.
Foden completed his first Premier League treble to finish off the perfect afternoon for irresistible City. Aged 22 years and 127 days, the England international also became the youngest player to reach 50 goals under Pep Guardiola, surpassing Lionel Messi.
United substitute Anthony Martial added a late consolation double, one from the penalty spot, to make the scoreline more respectable, but the margin of victory does not tell the true story of the gulf between the sides.“It’s quite simple, it’s a lack of belief,” Ten Hag told BBC.
“When you don’t believe on the pitch then you can’t win games, that is unacceptable.“We get undisciplined at following rules and you get hammered, that’s happened today.”Pep Guardiola’s team moved to within a point of Arsenal at the top of the standings and a bruised United stayed sixth.“Perfection doesn’t exist, it’s impossible,” Guardiola said.
