Manchester City hit Manchester United for six in the highest-scoring Manchester derby of all time this afternoon, plundering two hat-tricks in an historic 6-3 triumph at the Etihad Stadium.
There had only ever been two Man City hat-tricks in the 131-year history of this rivalry prior to Sunday's showdown, with the last of those coming 52 years ago.
However, there were two in the space of 10 minutes today as 22-year-old duo Erling Braut Haaland and Phil Foden both secured matchballs on a memorable day for Pep Guardiola's champions.
Haaland continued his prolific start to life in the Premier League by becoming the first player in the competition's history to net hat-tricks in three successive home games, while his overall tally in the division now stands at an unprecedented - and quite frankly preposterous - 14 goals in just eight appearances.
The Norway international also helped himself to two assists as Foden joined him in hitting three, taking his Man City tally above and beyond the 50-goal mark.
Both youngsters scored twice apiece in a one-sided first half as Man City went into the break 4-0 ahead, putting the game beyond doubt long before Antony pulled one back with his second in as many Premier League outings.
Man United's other two consolations both came courtesy of Anthony Martial late on as he was introduced ahead of unused substitute Cristiano Ronaldo and restored some semblance of respectability to the final score.
In reality, though, the result was even more damning than the 6-3 scoreline suggests as Man City brutally exposed the gulf in class which still separates what had been a resurgent Man United side from the best in the division.
HIGHLIGHTS
3rd min: Almost a perfect start for Man City as Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva are all denied in a triple-chance within seconds of each other.
8th min: The hosts make their dominant start count through Foden, who opens his account by sweeping Bernardo's cutback past a helpless David de Gea and into the top corner at the near post.
Phil Foden FIRES Man City ahead! π₯ pic.twitter.com/KgH60TPrsT
β Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 2, 2022
18th min: Almost a second for Man City as Ilkay Gundogan curls a free kick over the wall and against the outside of the post, with De Gea rooted to the spot.
32nd min: De Bruyne unleashes a powerful, dipping effort from all of 30 yards which De Gea has to tip over the crossbar.
34th min: From the resulting corner, Haaland escapes the marking of Christian Eriksen and rises highest to plant a header from De Bruyne's delivery just over the line, despite Tyrell Malacia's attempts to keep it out.
πππππππ πππππ ππ π-π!
β Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 2, 2022
π£οΈ "There is no stopping him!" π pic.twitter.com/KglxEiW6Mw
37th min: Two quickly becomes three as Haaland doubles his personal tally for the afternoon, again being fed by De Bruyne. The Belgian's defence-splitting through-ball is perfectly-weighted for the deadly striker, who expertly applies a difficult finish on the stretch.
Another goal for Erling Haaland! π₯π³ pic.twitter.com/ThC0720bsD
β Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 2, 2022
44th min: Haaland turns provider, channeling his inner De Bruyne to lay the ball on a plate for Foden's 50th Manchester City goal as he finishes off a devastating team move to make it 4-0 before half time.
ππππππ πππππππππππ π€―π€―
β Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 2, 2022
What a move by Manchester City π pic.twitter.com/kGWIa7vK4K
46th min: Almost a hat-trick for Foden as he pounces on some lax defending from half-time sub Luke Shaw and stings the palms of De Gea with a powerful strike from an angle.
56th min: Antony gives the depleted number of Man United supporters who stayed for the second half something to cheer about as he curls a fine long-range effort into the far corner, past the despairing dive of Ederson.
"So you're saying there's a chance..." π
β Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 2, 2022
Antony pulls one back for Man United with πππππππππ strike! π§π·π΄ pic.twitter.com/OuCNpkIi4Z
64th min: Haaland brings up his record-breaking hat-trick - his third in his last three home league games - with a commanding finish from Sergio Gomez's pass.
73rd min: Having waited 52 years for a hat-trick hero in the derby, Man City have two in 10 minutes as Foden lashes home another Haaland pass at the near post.
84th min: Man United pull another goal back as a late consolation, with Martial converting after Ederson could only parry the initial effort into his path.
91st min: Martial grabs his second, this time from the penalty spot, to restore some pride to the final scoreline. The Frenchman was brought down by Joao Cancelo to win the penalty, and the spot kick itself is superb as he places it right into the top corner.
MAN OF THE MATCH - ERLING BRAUT HAALAND
Β© Reuters
It is not often a team is quite so spoilt for choice when it comes to man of the match contenders, with two hat-trick heroes and other star showings from the likes of De Bruyne and Bernardo too.
However, while Foden also deserves a huge mention for his three goals, it is impossible to look past Haaland for this award after the Norway international not only boosted his own goalscoring tally by three goals, but also assisted two of Foden's.
It looks increasingly impossible to stop the 22-year-old striker right now, with this latest three-goal haul taking him to 14 in just eight games this season; he only needs 19 more in his next 30 games to break the all-time Premier League record for a 38-game campaign.
STANDOUT MOMENT
Β© Reuters
Either of the hat-trick moments would have been worthy winners of the standout moment, but we are giving it to Foden's second of the game, and Man City's fourth.
Pep Guardiola's men had already showcased some breathtaking football in an utterly dominant first-half display, but they took it up a notch with a sweeping passing moving which saw De Bruyne find Haaland, who in turn showed that he is more than 'just' an outrageously good goalscorer to pick out Foden.
The finish was straightforward enough for a player of his quality, but bringing up 50 goals for his boyhood club in such style will have been a special moment for the England international.
BEST STAT
Man City become only the 3rd side in @premierleague history to have 2οΈβ£ players score hat-tricks in a single match, after....
β Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) October 2, 2022
Arsenal 6-1 Southampton - Pennant & Pires, May 2003
Southampton 0-9 Leicester - Perez & Vardy, Oct 2019 pic.twitter.com/0XtZYREiIV
5 - Erling Haaland had a hand in five of Manchester City's six goals against Manchester United today (3 goals, 2 assists), the most goal involvements by a player in a single Premier League Manchester derby. Sensational. pic.twitter.com/FqGeCo3YGb
β OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 2, 2022
πRECORD BREAKER
β Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) October 2, 2022
Erling Haaland becomes the 1st player in @premierleague history to score a hat-trick in 3 successive PL home games
Quickest players to 3 PL hat-tricks
E HAALAND 8οΈβ£ apps
M Owen 4οΈβ£8οΈβ£ apps
R Van Nistelrooy 5οΈβ£9οΈβ£ apps
F Torres 6οΈβ£4οΈβ£ apps
A Cole 6οΈβ£5οΈβ£ apps pic.twitter.com/3BT1vcagex
4 - Since the start of 2020-21, Man Utd have conceded 4+ first-half goals in four Premier League games (v Spurs in Oct 2020, Liverpool in Oct 2021, Brentford in Aug 2022, Man City today); this is twice as often as any other side in this time. Humbled. pic.twitter.com/19Umi7fgHF
β OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 2, 2022
πRECORD BREAKER
β Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) October 2, 2022
Erling Haaland becomes the 1st player in @premierleague history to score a hat-trick in 3 successive PL home games
Quickest players to 3 PL hat-tricks
E HAALAND 8οΈβ£ apps
M Owen 4οΈβ£8οΈβ£ apps
R Van Nistelrooy 5οΈβ£9οΈβ£ apps
F Torres 6οΈβ£4οΈβ£ apps
A Cole 6οΈβ£5οΈβ£ apps pic.twitter.com/3BT1vcagex
50 - Phil Foden has scored his 50th goal for Manchester City in all competitions. Aged 22 years and 127 days, he is now the youngest player to reach 50 goals under Pep Guardiola, surpassing Lionel Messi (22y 164d). Prodigious. pic.twitter.com/eneis8RfKz
β OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 2, 2022
MATCH STATS
Possession: Man City 54%-46% Man United
Shots: Man City 22-12 Man United
Shots on target: Man City 10-8 Man United
Corners: Man City 5-1 Man United
Fouls: Man City 3-9 Man United
LINEUPS
MAN CITY (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker (Gomez 41'), Akanji, Ake, Cancelo; De Bruyne (Alvarez 75'), Gundogan (Laporte 75'), Bernardo; Foden (Mahrez 75'), Haaland, Grealish (Palmer 75')
MAN UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Dalot, Varane (Lindelof 40'), Martinez, Malacia (Shaw 46'); McTominay (Casemiro 59'), Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Sancho (Fred 70'); Rashford (Martial 59')
Barney Corkhill
