The 3 things we learnt from the derby win

A good night out in Manchester is always guaranteed and entertainment is starting to be a promise when the Manchester derby comes around twice a year.

Nine goals and two hat-tricks as the Eithad was bouncing in delight, particularly as the majority of the red section was empty after 40 minutes. It is becoming all too evident that Manchester City just love a derby day, particularly now City are strong favourites in ‘his’ lifetime.

Manchester City started in a professional 100-meter sprint while United thought a marathon was on the cards as their midfield got overran, allowing City stars to dominate.

Three goals apiece from Haaland and Foden but there were nines and tens all over the pitch as a 6-3 victory gave United a lesson.

Normally, victories are hard to learn from but City will also take a lot of lessons from the victory. We narrow those findings to the three best findings from the game.

The front three are the best in the league

There had been some questions and doubts thrown around Jack Grealish and Phil Foden’s position on the wings given their recent performances, however their attacking threat was an absolute joy to behold. Both gave United full-backs a torrid time and forced their new ‘wonderboy’ off at halftime.

Guardiola singled out Grealish for praise and he had a role in the build-up to multiple goals for Haaland and Foden to score. The demands of “run at defenders” was listened to and he fully delivered; likely giving Diego Dalot nightmares this evening.

The Norwegian striker is key to the wingers flourishing as he pins the two centre-backs and forces the defenders to not move from his shadow, creating one-on-ones for Foden and Grealish against the full-backs.

He created more than goals though, assisting the second and third of Foden’s goals to walk home with a match ball each.

All unplayable and we are unlikely going to see Mahrez, Palmer or Alvarez featuring regularly when all are fit and raring to go.

A right back should be signed

I’m not writing Kyle Walker off but considering he has just come back from injury, he now faces another spell on the sidelines.

A muscular injury may cause some worry but the diagnosis and the extent of that is unknown. Calls for cover to be a key target in January or this summer is a must.

Joao Cancelo filled in with Sergio Gomez replacing, however I prefer Cancelo on the left as it seems the perfect fit and more influential in the current system.

A few question marks should be raised over Gomez’s defensive abilities following his performance, no matter how good he looks going forward.

John Stones has been filling in as cover but he is a central defender first and foremost. Stick to the centre back John!

The gulf in class is massive

Gary Neville saw the team sheet and thought that Manchester United would be in for a great chance, most likely due to the absences of Ruben Dias and Rodri.

https://twitter.com/GNev2/status/1576540505588264960

“They’re getting done this lot.” A prediction ageing like a yoghurt in the sun and becoming even more deluded with his predictions, even if he should claim it was tongue and cheek. Micah Richards revelled in his optimism just after the 45 minutes though.

Missing two key players, the replacements were head and shoulders above United’s midfield and the three goals conceeded in the second half certainly flattered the opponents. It  could’ve even been more before half-time.

The crispness and the accuracy of the passing that was evident in the first half showed the Premier League who is the boss in this city now. The difference between Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay to Grealish, Foden and Gundogan is huge.

Maybe winning four games on the bounce got to their heads a little bit.

City fans can go into Copenhagen and Southampton happy knowing that they’re the best team in Manchester until 14 January, although an extension on that title is looking likely.