Not content with losing to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup, Manchester United have now lost two of their opening four league games and won just once - here they surrendered 3-0 without a fight
19:08, 14 Sep 2025
Jeremy Cross
Jeremy joined the Daily Star in 2010 as Manchester football correspondent and for more than a decade has served as our Chief Sports Writer. He provides expert coverage on Manchester United and Manchester City, the Premier League as a whole, and the England football team. Jeremy has covered football, rugby and cricket World Cups, as well as Wimbledon, the golf majors and the Olympics.
Ruben Amorim looks on during the Manchester derby
Ruben Amorim's Manchester United are going from bad to worse(Image: Michael Regan)
On a day when Manchester City lost one of their own, it was fitting that another local legend helped win this derby for Pep Guardiola's side.
The death of former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton cast a dark shadow over the latest chapter of one of football's most explosive stories. But if Hatton was looking down from above, perhaps he smiled at the fact Manchester born Phil Foden landed the first blow in this scrap between two neighbours.
The whole of the Etihad paid a fitting an emotional tribute to Hatton before kick off. Then Foden added his own, with a first half header to fire his side ahead. Before lending a hand in the build up to the first of Erling Haaland's two second half strikes, to confirm a much-needed win for the deposed champions.
Hatton had blue blood running through his veins. As does Foden, who landed the first punch - one Hatton would have been proud of -with a glancing header to set City on the road to victory.
Then Haaland did the rest. Despite spending the thick end of £250m on new signings this summer, Ruben Amorim's problems continue to mount.
Players, staff, fans and officials observe a minute's applause in memory of Ricky Hatton, prior to the Manchester derby
Players, staff, fans and officials observe a minute's applause in memory of Ricky Hatton, prior to the Manchester derby(Image: Getty Images)
Not content with losing to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup, United have now lost two of their opening four league games and won just once.
And in one of their biggest games of the season, United surrendered without a fight, to leave United bosses with more questions than answers when it comes to their Portuguese head coach.
Guardiola, on the other hand, now has some breathing space of his own. Just three games into the season and City had found themselves 17th in the table.
Phil Foden opened the scoring in the Manchester derby
Phil Foden opened the scoring in the Manchester derby(Image: Getty Images)
Guardiola had made his worst start to any season as a boss, while City had lost two of their opening three league games for the first time in more than two decades. Losing was not an option, despite how long there was to go.
Haaland came close to firing City ahead within 18 seconds. But United still made a bright start, with debutante Gianluigi Donnarumma saving from Benjamin Sesko and Amad Diallo failing with an overhead kick.
But Foden pounced on 18 minutes, guiding a header into the bottom corner after Jeremy Doku had blitzed through the feeble challenge of Luke Shaw. It was his first goal of what promised to be a huge season for Foden.
And it meant only the great Sergio Aguero (8) had scored more Premier League goals in the Manchester derby for City than Foden now has.
Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo (left) and Manuel Ugarte (right) react after Manchester City score their third goal
Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo (left) and Manuel Ugarte (right) react after Manchester City score their third goal(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The team that had scored first in this league derby had gone on to lose on three of the last four occasions. But United never looked like making it a fourth.
Tiijani Reijnders could have doubled City's lead, but Altay Bayindir was in the right place to keep out the shot, while Haaland's control let him down to waste another attack.
Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes were getting overrun in midfield, meaning United were hanging on. So no-one was surprised when Haaland ran onto Doku's pass and beat Bayindir with a chipped finish to make it 2-0.
Moments later Haaland rounded Bayindir but somehow hit the post instead of scoring. United were on the ropes, but Donnarumma denied Mbeumo with a world class save, before Haaland flattened the visitors once and for all.
Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring for Manchester City in the derby
Erling Haaland was in fine form bagging a brace for Manchester City against Manchester United(Image: Michael Regan)
MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Donnarumma 7; O’Reilly 7, Khusanov 7, Dias 7, Gvardiol 7; Rodri 8 (Gonzalez 77), Reijnders 6, Silva 7 (Ake 88); Doku 8 (Savinio 77), Foden, 8 Haaland 9 (Bobb 88).
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MANCHESTER UNITED 3-4-3): Bayindir 6; Yoro 5 (Maguie 62, 6) , De Ligt 4, Mazraoui 4 (Mainoo 62, 6); Dorgu 6, Urgarte 5 (Casemiro 80), Fernandes 4, Diallo 6; Mbeumo 7, Fernandes 6, Sesko 5 (Zirkzee 80).
Referee: Anthony Taylor 7
MOM: Erling Haaland