In the Manchester derby, Phil Foden was the star of the show as Manchester City overcame United by coming from behind.

In Erik ten Hag’s rookie season, the England star scored a hat-trick as the Red Devils were thrashed 6-3 at the Etihad. This season, he again tormented the under-fire Dutchman with two excellent goals in the second half, before Erling Haaland, who was responsible for a stunning first-half miss, had the last say.

Thanks to a magnificent goal in the eighth minute by Marcus Rashford, United lead at the half. Bruno Fernandes set up Rashford for the game’s first assault, and the striker finished with a 25-yard blast past Ederson to record just his sixth goal of the year.

But City dominated throughout in a game where United conceded in excess of 20 shots on their goal for the 10th time this season. You can only get away with that for so long, and not against opposition like this.

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However, the home side did need a moment of individual brilliance to find their breakthrough.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Foden, faced with out-of-position left-back Victor Lindelof, elected not to look for a pass, stepped in on his left peg and thumped one into Andre Onana’s top corner.

He doubled the lead after a cute one-two with Julian Alvarez in the 80th minute, before Haaland made amends for his earlier horror miss in injury time with a left-footed stroke into the net to send scores of visiting fans out of the ground.

Here are seven talking points from the Etihad…

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates with man of the match Phil Foden.

1. City get the job done against inferior United

It probably wasn’t how Pep Guardiola wanted it to go. Heck, you can delete the probably.

It probably wasn’t how Ten Hag wanted it to go either. Again you can delete the probably.

Ten Hag’s side, shorn of Rasmus Hojlund when he’s just found his feet, went with something of a 4-2-2-2 formation, with Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes their most advanced central players, Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho down the flanks. No fixed striker. A rotating cast.

Other than Rashford’s wonder-strike, it didn’t really work. There were a few breakaways here and there, but they basically spent 98 minutes defending the edge of their 18-yard box, trying to be resolute and hoping their opponents had an off day.

City obliged for a while, but eventually, their quality told. You can’t give up a total of 27 shots and 3.32 xG to Guardiola’s side and expect to get away with it. With John Stones and Rodri operating at the base of midfield, in front of the back three, and with Haaland the focal point of attack, they were very much back to the 3-4-2-1 formation that propelled them to last season’s Treble.

They wore down an inferior United. A United who know they’re inferior.

And when they needed some magic, Foden delivered.

Pep Guardiola celebrates City’s stunning finale

2. Rashford’s response

This week Rashford hit back at critics who he believes have questioned his desire while playing for United this season.

“If you ever question my commitment to United, that’s when I have to speak up,” he wrote in an article for the Players’ Tribune. “It’s like somebody questioning my entire identity and everything I stand for as a man. If you start questioning my commitment to this club and my love for football and bringing my family into it, then I’d simply ask you to have a bit more humanity.”

Certainly, it received something of a mixed reaction, among United supporters and rival fans. Rashford is a hero for what he did during Covid, using his voice to get free school meals to kids who needed them, to large swathes of the UK. After all, only morons believe kids shouldn’t be fed.

The point that Rashford missed however with this week’s statement was that the criticism from football writers, football fans and football pundits has nothing to do with his off-field actions – either good or bad – but everything to do with what he produces on the field. It felt misguided. This season, having scored as few goals as he has – only five in 32 before this, having notched 30 last term – when his body language has looked as disinterested as, on occasion, it has, there is going to be criticism for what people are seeing out on the pitch.

The best way to respond, something that shuts up everyone – even if only for a brief time – is to just whack one into the top corner from 25 yards at over 70mph. His 30th goal against other members of the Premier League’s so-called ‘Big Six’ was probably his best. What a strike.

Alas, that was as good as it got for he and United.

Marcus Rashford of Manchester United celebrates scoring at the Etihad

3. The most unremarkable Premier League record?

It took until the 27th minute of the match for the referee, Andrew Madley, to blow his whistle for a foul from either team.

It wasn’t a bad foul, just a routine, run-of-the-mill mistimed foot in from Victor Lindelof; the sort of thing that won’t make a highlight on Match of the Day. Because why would it?

But after an opening where City had dominated possession and, mostly, pressed United back, while being hit on the counter a couple of times and conceded to Rashford’s howitzer, it was nonetheless unremarkably, remarkable.

4. Haaland’s miss

Forty-five minutes and barely a sniff for Manchester City ’s No.9, even as his team-mates fired 17 shots at Andre Onana’s goal. Then he was offered shot No.18 and produced a miss that was barely comprehensible.

It’s not that Haaland doesn’t miss chances. In fact, no-one has missed more of what Opta term ‘Big Chances’ than the Norwegian this season – partly because, you know, he gets more than anyone else. It’s just you don’t expect him to miss chances like that. You don’t really expect any Premier League striker to miss one from three yards. But especially not him.

“That might be the worst miss I’ve ever seen at this level,” said Gary Lineker on Twitter, with no shortage of recency bias at play. “Has to head it. Incredible.”

Nevertheless, It’s one Dad’s everywhere will have been telling their sons “I’d have scored that”.

Erling Haaland of Manchester City misses when it looked harder to score

5. Was it a foul?

Moments before Foden arrowed one into the top corner to equalise for the champions, there was a coming together between England’s speed merchants Rashford and Kyle Walker.

Rashford looked like he could race clear, Walker got back in, put a hand on the United forward, who went down and appealed for a foul. A matter of seconds later, Foden found Onana’s top corner.

Ten Hag made his feelings crystal clear, furiously berating the officials as City countered. He didn’t stop when Foden’s strike hit the net and duly saw yellow for his troubles.

So was it a foul? Those of a United persuasion are likely to argue yes. City fans will disagree. And who am I to persuade you otherwise. Instead, I’ll let Gary Neville, the Manchester United legend on commentary for Sky Sports today, say it for me.

“There’s nothing in that. He’s got to stand up there Marcus Rashford and get the ball.”

Erik ten Hag shows his frustration after Walker’s challenge on Rashford

6. Foden’s best season… now England

Foden’s delicious strike was his 17th goal in all competitions. It was soon followed by his 18th, in what is now his best-ever scoring season.

None of those have come from the penalty spot, meaning that, in terms of Premier League players, only Haaland (23) and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins (21) have found the net more from open play than City’s local star.

England boss Gareth Southgate, in attendance here, has a couple of interesting decisions to make ahead of Euro 2024 and perhaps the biggest is where does he play Foden? Bukayo Saka has been the Three Lions chief’s first choice on the right and along with Harry Kane is one of the first names on the team sheet.

That’s where Foden has been so impressive for City for much of the current campaign. Can Southgate figure out how to play both? Moving one to the left flank, where there is no such standout candidate right now, appears a likely solution. But would it negate the goal threat of either?

7. Over to you Arsenal

Liverpool won at Nottingham Forest with a late Darwin Nunez strike in controversial circumstances.

Manchester City came from behind to claim all three points here.

This season’s title race is hotting up nicely. Now it’s Arsenal’s turn to respond.

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