Haaland double gives visitors derby day blues

Erling Haaland urged Manchester City to "get our asses going", then showed exactly how with the second and third goals that sealed this 197th derby for Pep Guardiola's team, and ended a two-defeat run.

- Jamie Jackson

This is no vintage City iteration currently, at least - but witnessing how the Norwegian bagged his strikes, and performed throughout, suggests their main man is up for leading the revival.

This was on 68 minutes and signaled contest over on an afternoon that began in fittingly sombre mood due to Ricky Hatton's death yesterday morning and which was marked by a pre-match minute's appreciation for the pugilist, and in-game singing of the lifelong City fan's name.

The victory gives City six points from four league outings and leaves Ruben Amorim's side on four. They might have trundled home nursing a 4-0 (or more) defeat if Haaland's teammates were as cut-throat as him - towards the close Tijjani Reijnders again sprung United's midfield, Amorim wheeled in disgust, but the Dutchman sprayed wide.

In Haaland, the City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma (excellent on debut), Rodri, Phil Foden (who scored the opener), Rúben Dias and others Guardiola has a high-quality coterie. Amorim still does not, which is the puzzle he must solve if United's disastrous campaign of last season is not to be repeated.