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Kevin de Bruyne is the first player to be involved in three goals in the Manchester derby in the Premier League since Ashley Young in 2015Manchester City outclassed Manchester United to maintain control of the Premier League title race with an outstanding display at Etihad Stadium.
City remain six points clear of Liverpool having played one game more after a victory that was arguably even more convincing than the scoreline suggests.
Ralf Rangnick's side were without injured Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani, as well as Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw, who have Covid-19, and found themselves overwhelmed by the quality and intensity of the reigning champions.
Kevin de Bruyne was at the heart of it all. He put City ahead with a crisp early finish then restored their lead before half-time after Jadon Sancho put United level with precise low strike, the Belgian's second hammered home in a goalmouth scramble.
City turned up the tempo after the break and got the goal their vast superiority deserved after 68 minutes when Riyad Mahrez met De Bruyne's corner on the half-volley to beat United keeper David de Gea. The goal came via a deflection off United captain Harry Maguire, who endured a nightmare afternoon.
It got even better for City in the closing moments when Mahrez raced clear to beat De Gea, the goal being given after a lengthy VAR check for offside.
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Man City respond to pressure
Manchester City felt Liverpool at their back after Jurgen Klopp's side moved to within three points following their win against West Ham United but the champions could not have responded more impressively.
From the first whistle, City imposed themselves on Manchester United and Sancho's fine equaliser proved to be only a minor inconvenience as the gap between Guardiola's team and their arch-rivals was brutally exposed.
De Bruyne was the mastermind, scoring twice and creating City's third, the shining star in a galaxy on display at Etihad Stadium as they showed they are in no mood to relinquish their crown, no matter how hard Liverpool push them.
City's first-half performance was excellent but after the break they were simply magnificent as they over-ran United, who were not given a second on the ball and were unable to resist wave after wave of attacks.
Mahrez could have scored more than his two goals but for De Gea, while Joao Cancelo was also thwarted by the United keeper following an acrobatic volley.
City's dominance of possession and ability to carve open an admittedly vulnerable United defence at will delighted their supporters, who revelled in a show of superiority that left United a beaten and bedraggled side long before the end.
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Manchester City
Squad number31Player nameEderson
Squad number2Player nameWalker
Squad number5Player nameStones
Squad number14Player nameLaporte
Squad number27Player nameJoão Cancelo
Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne- Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
Squad number26Player nameMahrez
Squad number47Player nameFoden- Squad number10Player nameGrealish
Squad number8Player nameGündogan
Manchester United
Squad number1Player namede Gea- Squad number29Player nameWan-Bissaka
Squad number2Player nameLindelöf- Squad number5Player nameMaguire
- Squad number27Player nameAlex Telles
Squad number39Player nameMcTominay
Squad number17Player nameFred- Squad number36Player nameElanga
Squad number6Player namePogba- Squad number25Player nameSancho
- Squad number18Player nameBruno Fernandes
Squad number10Player nameRashford
Squad number14Player nameLingard
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Ederson
- 2Walker
- 5Stones
- 14Laporte
- 27Cancelo
- 17De BruyneSubstituted forGündoganat 80'minutes
- 16Rodri
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 26Mahrez
- 47Foden
- 10Grealish
Substitutes
- 7Sterling
- 8Gündogan
- 9Gabriel Jesus
- 11Zinchenko
- 25Fernandinho
- 33Carson
- 48Delap
- 79Mbete
- 87McAtee
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 2Lindelöf
- 5MaguireBooked at 63mins
- 27Telles
- 39McTominay
- 17Fred
- 36ElangaSubstituted forLingardat 64'minutes
- 6PogbaSubstituted forRashfordat 64'minutes
- 25Sancho
- 18Bruno Fernandes
Substitutes
- 3Bailly
- 4Jones
- 8Mata
- 10Rashford
- 14Lingard
- 20Dalot
- 26Henderson
- 31Matic
- 46Mejbri
Referee:Michael Oliver
Attendance:53,165
Live Text
Match ends, Manchester City 4, Manchester United 1.
Second Half ends, Manchester City 4, Manchester United 1.
Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Fred (Manchester United).
VAR Decision: Goal Manchester City 4-1 Manchester United (Riyad Mahrez).
Goal! Manchester City 4, Manchester United 1. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan with a through ball.Goal awarded following VAR Review.
Attempt missed. Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jack Grealish.
Attempt missed. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan.
Attempt blocked. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Scott McTominay.
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United).
Attempt missed. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
Attempt saved. João Cancelo (Manchester City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kyle Walker.
Substitution, Manchester City. Ilkay Gündogan replaces Kevin De Bruyne.
Hand ball by Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City).
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United).
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Alex Telles (Manchester United).
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