Man City vs Man Utd LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Foden and Haaland goals complete comeback
Man City 3-1 Man Utd: Pep Guardiola’s men fought from a goal down to triumph in the Manchester derby
Manchester City triumphed at the Etihad Stadium to keep up the pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool and earn a sixth win in the last seven Manchester derbies.
Things didn’t always look as though City would win. Marcus Rashford had the first word with a blistering strike inside the first 10 minutes, beating Ederson from 25-yards with a rocket that rattled into the underside of the crossbar and finished in the back of the net.
United’s Andre Onana performed admirably in goal as City stepped up the tempo but the hosts should have entered the half-time break on level terms only for Erling Haaland to volley over the crossbar from close range.
Phil Foden, quickly making the derby his stage to perform on, nipped in from the right just before the hour mark and nailed a left footed strike into the far top corner to equalise. With 10 minutes to go Foden, aided superbly by Julian Alvarez, finished off a slick move to get into the box and coolly finished past Onana to put the hosts ahead before Haaland closed out the match in stoppage time.
Relive the action from the Manchester derby below:
Phil Foden cements role as Man City’s new talisman and alters Man Utd’s future
There is a global interest in the Manchester derby but if there was a defiantly local flavour as Mancunians brought the magic. Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United was also Stockport 2-1 Wythenshawe. With squads compiled for a colossal cost, three goals came from the homegrown.
City may claim Erling Haaland, born in the summer his father joined them, as one of their own too, but his sixth derby goal was the suffix to Phil Foden’s brace.
For United, a day that began well and contained the essence of an excellent display nevertheless ended with the defeat most anticipated.
Read Richard Jolly’s report from the Etihad Stadium:
Phil Foden cements role as Man City’s new talisman and alters Man Utd’s future
Man City 3-1 Manchester United: Foden’s double helped City come from behind to snatch victory and keep pace in the title race
Next up for both sides
It’s big game after big game for Manchester City as they face Copenhagen in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie before heading to Anfield for a crunch title-race clash against Liverpool.
Man United, meanwhile, have the week to regroup before they take on Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday.
That is all for today, though. Thanks for tuning in!
More from Guardiola
On Haaland’s response to his miss: “He can miss that chance and ten more but it’s about how he responds and his body language. He kept going and that’s what it is [about]. You score or you miss, it’s about how you react in the good and bad moments and this defines the top players.”
On the title race: “We had one or two more points than at this stage last season so we are doing really. We won the treble that season but we have another two teams with us again. I have been here eight years and other than one year, the title race has been toe-to-toe and difficult so it doesn’t surprise me.”
Pep Guardiola, speaking to Sky Sports
“We were not struggling, we were losing the game but not struggling. We had really good defensively and offensively. The first half was better than the second.”
On Phil Foden: “Winning games is when you become a world-class player. Everyone plays good but you have to win games, and he wins games. What can I say?
“He loves football. He lives to play. There are people who like to play. He loves to play football. He will already be a legendary player because, in a short time, the games he’s played, the goals he’s scored and the titles he’s won. He is from here and that is why the connection with the fans is unbelievable.
“He is the player of the season, with all the respect for incredible players but no one has been so decisive for us as him this season.”
Comeback kings
This was the 12th time that Man City fell behind in a Premier League game this season; only in 2019-20 (13) have they done so more in a single campaign under Pep Guardiola.
Despite this, they have recovered 21 points from losing positions in the competition this term, their most ever in a Premier League season (previously 20 in 1993-94).
Last up, let’s hear from the City boss...
More from Ten Hag
On the injuries to Evans and Rashford: “I don’t know, they had to come off, but I preferred to keep them [Rashford and Evans] on as the organisation was very good.”
On damage of losing: “We had one bad performance last week but this year we are really progressing and you have to get some points back. We have plenty more games to play and everyone can beat everyone - things can quickly turn around.
“Number five [fifth position in the league] could also get a spot in the Champions League so we have to fight for it.”
Ten Hag speaking to Sky Sports
“They gave it everything. We had two players on the pitch - Rashford and Evans - who were not 100 per cent but they gave it everything like the whole team. The performance was good but we are, of course, disappointed with the score.
“On another day we could have won this game. It’s small margins - if Rashford or Garnacho go through and we find a second [it’s different]. Rashford had some very good opportunities and Garnacho had some moments but it’s fine margins. All the credit to City.
On the setup: “We gave Bruno a free role and try to give room for runs in behind but there were also moments where he was smart to get in behind and created chances like the opener.
On a potential foul before City’s opener: “Let’s say this it is debatable there was contact [on Rashford] and it’s a defining moment in the game, in the counter-attack they scored.
“It was soft [foul on Rashford], but when you are in a full sprint you lose your rhythm that is why he went down.”
Bruno Fernandes speaking to Sky Sports
“I think the commitment from the team was there. We had our chances. Sometimes we played a little too deep but you know City do that to all the teams. You have to defend your box and we did that really well in the first half. Then, from our chance, it ended up 1-1.
“There’s always something more you can do in the game, if it is City or someone else you can always do something better. City are a team that knows how to have the ball and pin teams back. We knew we had to defend our goal really well and I think we did, we should have had more spells with the ball than we did in the second half.”
On fight to get in the Champions League: “Every time you don’t win a game it is damaging at this club. We know what this club demands and we want to win the games we are involved in.
“We didn’t get the three points today but there’s still a long way to go. We know it is not everything in our hands because other teams have to lose points but we have to do our job.”
A tough day at the office for United
A tricky game for Manchester United who attempted just three shots in this match; only once on record (from 2003-04) have they had fewer in a single Premier League game (2 v Liverpool in April 2022).
Let’s get some reaction now from the visitors...
Phil Foden speaking to Sky Sports:
“That’s my aim, to turn up in the big games. That’s what I want to do and I think this season I’m proving that. Just need to keeping working hard.
“I understand what it means to the fans. A derby at the Etihad means everything to me. To score is even better, but it was all about the win today.”
On his switch to the left wing: “The manager said switch with Bernardo [Silva] and not long after I got the second goal. Obviously, the manager knows best and it paid off in the end.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments