Foden brilliance proves the difference as City emerge winners in Manchester derby 

BIG INPUT: Manchester City's Phil Foden celebrates. Pic: Mike Egerton, PA Wire.

Manchester City 3 Manchester United 1 

Phil Foden's double and an inevitable Erling Haaland goal ensured City emerged winners of yet another Manchester derby to keep the pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Marcus Rashford gave United an early lead with a spectacular goal and Erik Ten Hag's team defended resolutely to stay in front at the break - thanks to an incredible miss by Haaland and three fine saves by Andre Onana.

But Foden, watched by England boss Gareth Southgate, upstaged Rashford in the second half with an equally spectacular equaliser after 56 minutes and then a well-taken second after 80 minutes.

And Haaland made up for his first half miss by adding the third in added time as Pep Guardiola's team moved within a point of Liverpool before their showdown at Anfield next Sunday.

The defeat - United's 11th in the Premier League this season - was another setback to their fading hopes of securing a Champions League place. It leaves them 11 points behind Aston Villa in fourth place, and six adrift of fifth-placed Tottenham, with only 11 games left.

Ten Hag's clear tactical plan of urging Onana to go direct to beat City's press, playing Fernandes as a 'false nine' and moving Rashford back out to his favoured position off the left paid off handsomely after eight minutes.

Onana punted a long ball right over the top of City's defence for Fernandes to run onto. He held off the challenge of Ruben Dis before rolling the ball into the path of Rashford who thundered a first-time shot from 25 yards into the net via the underside of the bar.

It was a sensational goal and an emphatic response to the criticism he has received this 2season and for the interview he gave in midweek when he hit back at questions over his commitment to United.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland (right) celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game with team-mate Phil Foden. Pic: Mike Egerton, PA Wire.

City dominated possession and won countless corners with United pulling all 10 outfield players behind the ball and keeping their disciplined But they still needed Onana to make three fine saves - twice from Phil Foden and once from Rodri - to deny City an equaliser.

Just before half-time City should have been level but Haaland of all people contrived one of the misses of the season when he lifted the ball over the bar from six yards net in front of an open net.

City's pressure continued in the second half and Foden's equaliser after 56 minutes was as spectacular as Rashford's. He cut inside Victor Lindelof on the edge of the penalty area before thundering a left-foot shot into the top corner.

But United were furious because moments earlier, Rashford was pushed over by Kyle Walker as he raced through with referee Madley ignoring their appeals for a free-kick and a possible red card for the City defender.

After Foden's goal, Ten Hag threw a water bottle down in anger in the technical area and was booked for his protests to the fourth official Darren England.

As they tired, United's defensive concentration dipped. 

Foden ran away from Casemiro by playing a one-two with Julian Alvarez before slotting home City's second.

And then Haaland cashed in on a mistake by United sub Sofyan Amrabat - who lost possession to the imperious Rodri - to fire a trademark effort for his 28th goal of the season.

Man City (4-2-3-1): Ederson 6; Walker 7, Stones 7, Dias 6, Aké 6; Rodri 8, Silva 7; Foden 9, De Bruyne 7, Doku 6 (Alvarez 60, 7); Haaland 6.

Man Utd (4-3-2-1): Onana 8; Dalot 7, Varane 6, Evans 7 (Kambwala 69, 6), Lindelöf 6; Mainoo 6 (Ambrabat 81, 5), Casemiro 6, McTominay 6; Fernandes 6, Garnacho 5 (Forson 81, 5); Rashford 7 (Antony 74, 5).

Referee: Andy Madley 6.