By Victor Kanayo
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 at Etihad stadium.
City put United to the sword in a ruthless display of attacking football in the first half at the Etihad Stadium, as the visitors, who had won their last four leagues games, were blown away by the champions.
Foden got the scoring underway inside eight minutes, sweeping home Bernardo Silva’s low cross, before Haaland headed his first in the 34th minute to put City in command.
Haaland has made a mockery of settling into life in 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 to notch up his third hat-trick in eight Premier League games.
Foden completed his first Premier League treble to finish off the perfect afternoon for irresistible City, before United substitute Anthony Martial added a late consolation double to make the scoreline more respectable.
Pep Guardiola’s side moved to within a point of Arsenal at the top of the standings and a bruised United stayed sixth.
Also, it was a game that singled out Haaland as the first player to score three successive Premier League home hat-tricks.
Haaland’s rampage this season continued as he made it 17 goals in 10 games since his move from Borussia Dortmund and Phil Foden also scored a treble as City closed the gap on pace-setters Arsenal to one point.
This was a brutal reality check for United after their recent improvement, as the reigning Premier League champions ran riot to illustrate the gulf in class between the teams.
Anthony Martial’s late goal for United was greeted in near silence, as was his added-time penalty, on a day of embarrassment for United and manager Erik ten Hag and one of elation for City and Pep Guardiola.
