Erling Haaland's third home hat-trick in a row further underlined his clinical finishingManchester City's Erling Haaland became the first player to score three successive Premier League home hat-tricks as Manchester United were humiliated in the derby at Etihad Stadium.
Haaland's rampant start to the season continued as he made it 17 goals in 10 games since his move from Borussia Dortmund while Phil Foden scored his first treble for City as they 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.
City's lightning start was rewarded when Foden swept home Bernardo Silva's cross after eight minutes before Haaland inevitably joined the action with a header from a corner 11 minutes before half-time.
As United subsided, Haaland slid in a third from Kevin de Bruyne's perfect pass then turned provider to set up a simple finish for Foden before the break.
United's new signing Antony replied with a superb goal from 25 yards to pull one back but it only provoked City to up the tempo again, Haaland thumping home his third from Sergio Gomez's cross then again showing he can be creator by setting up Foden for City's sixth.
Haaland's third put him in the record books following hat-tricks at home to Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.
Anthony Martial's late goal for United was greeted in near silence, as was his added-time penalty, on a day of embarrassment for the visitors and their manager Erik ten Hag and one of elation for City and Pep Guardiola.
Who can stop Man City and Haaland?
Arsenal are worthy Premier League leaders but this was a frightening display of firepower from the reigning champions as they confirmed their status as firm favourites to win a fifth title in six years.
City were clearly potent before the arrival of Haaland but he has put them on a different level, delivering the one thing they were arguably missing as he increases the ratio of chances they take with his ruthless finishing.
Add the creativity, and on this day the goals, from Foden plus the genius of De Bruyne and it is hard to see how they can be stopped, with Haaland also looking as if he could be the missing link that might finally bring the Champions League to the Etihad.
City blew United away as they started at lightning speed and went in 4-0 at half-time, referee Michael Oliver's whistle for the break coming as a merciful release for United.
United's goal poked City into action with Antony's fine strike merely the catalyst for another onslaught, as Haaland scored the record-breaking third.
Abject Man Utd put in their place
Manchester United arrived at the Etihad fuelled by the optimism of four successive league wins but were brought down to earth by their rampant neighbours.
United looked out of their depth within seconds of the start, surviving three goal-line clearances in the same incident before Foden set the tone for the afternoon when he flashed Silva's cross past a helpless David de Gea.
Manager Ten Hag resisted the temptation to start with the experience of £70m signing from Real Madrid, Casemiro, as he stuck with Christian Eriksen, Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes in midfield.
It was a decision he may now regret as United were over-powered and over-run in all areas, unable to stem the tide and failing to cope with City's creation and the awesome power and athleticism of Haaland.
The fact they scored more goals in the second half than City, including a beauty from new signing Antony, can hardly be labelled as a consolation as their recent upturn in results was put in perspective.
If anyone at United thought those better results in the last few weeks meant they were moving closer to City, this scoreline - which actually flattered them - put a stop to those notions.
Player of the match
HaalandErling Haaland
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
31Ederson
2Walker25Akanji6Aké7Cancelo
17De Bruyne8Gündogan20Bernardo Silva
47Foden9Haaland10Grealish
31Ederson2WalkerSubstituted forGómezat 41'minutes25Akanji6Aké7Cancelo17De BruyneSubstituted forÁlvarezat 75'minutes8GündoganSubstituted forLaporteat 75'minutes20Bernardo Silva47FodenSubstituted forMahrezat 75'minutes9Haaland10GrealishSubstituted forPalmerat 75'minutesSubstitutes
3Rúben Dias14Laporte18Ortega19Álvarez21Gómez26Mahrez33Carson80Palmer82LewisMan Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
1de Gea
20Dalot19Varane6Martínez12Malacia
39McTominay14Eriksen
21dos Santos8Bruno Fernandes25Sancho
10Rashford
1de Gea20DalotBooked at 2mins19VaraneSubstituted forLindelöfat 40'minutes6Martínez12MalaciaBooked at 23minsSubstituted forShawat 45'minutes39McTominaySubstituted forCasemiroat 59'minutes14Eriksen21dos Santos8Bruno FernandesBooked at 80mins25SanchoSubstituted forFredat 70'minutes10RashfordSubstituted forMartialat 59'minutesSubstitutes
2Lindelöf7Cristiano Ronaldo9Martial17Fred18Casemiro22Heaton23Shaw28Pellistri36ElangaLive Text
Match ends, Manchester City 6, Manchester United 3.
Second Half ends, Manchester City 6, Manchester United 3.
Goal! Manchester City 6, Manchester United 3. Anthony Martial (Manchester United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
Penalty conceded by João Cancelo (Manchester City) after a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty Manchester United. Anthony Martial draws a foul in the penalty area.
Attempt blocked. Antony (Manchester United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Casemiro (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fred.
Attempt saved. Antony (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Diogo Dalot.
Attempt missed. Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Sergio Gómez with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Lisandro Martínez.
Goal! Manchester City 6, Manchester United 2. Anthony Martial (Manchester United) header from very close range to the bottom right corner.
Attempt saved. Fred (Manchester United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Luke Shaw.
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card.
Manuel Akanji (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United).
Attempt blocked. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Cole Palmer.
Substitution, Manchester City. Aymeric Laporte replaces Ilkay Gündogan.
Substitution, Manchester City. Cole Palmer replaces Jack Grealish.
Substitution, Manchester City. Julián Álvarez replaces Kevin De Bruyne.
Substitution, Manchester City. Riyad Mahrez replaces Phil Foden.
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