Phil Foden is an unashamed Manchester City fan but he comes from a family of reds. A brilliant brace from the Stockport-born forward on Sunday downed the team followed by his father, brother, uncle and grandfather.

Erling Haaland wrapped up a 3-1 win to take City back to within one point of the Premier League leaders Liverpool but the afternoon began with Marcus Rashford front and centre.

The Manchester United forward comes from a divided home himself. “Half my family were United supporters,” he once revealed, “and the other half were City.” After a defiant interview earlier in the week, with Rashford questioning the negative attention his every action generates in the press, the spotlight was firmly fixed on United’s number ten at the Etihad.

Inside the opening eight minutes, Bruno Fernandes held up Andre Onana’s long punt forward. Rashford charged onto the ball, battering a venomous drive off the underside of Ederson’s crossbar. Pep Guardiola was wary of United’s propensity to pounce in a split-second. “From one action,” he warned ahead of the game, “they can create something special.”

“What a goal” was immediately trending on X but not every onlooker could appreciate the violent beauty of Rashford’s opener.

Rashford could have sealed the match before the half-hour mark as United waited to catch City in transition. Yet, the 26-year-old fluffed his lines on each occasion, rushing into a hurried header with Kyle Walker on his shoulder before swiping at thin air while lining up a volley at the back post.

Manchester United have been porous all season. Heading into the derby, only three teams had faced more shots than Erik ten Hag’s side, who were shipping an average of 16 each game. Manchester City had 18 efforts in the first half alone – the best of which fell to Haaland.

Foden, who had fluffed a one-on-one opportunity earlier in the match, nodded the ball across United’s crowded box on the cusp of half-time. Haaland found himself unmarked, two yards from goal as he opened his instep. Yet, he spooned the ball over the bar – much to the disbelief of Haaland and every spectator.

According to Opta (via Fotmob), Haaland had an 89% chance of scoring his squandered opportunity. Rashford, by comparison, found the back of the net with an attempt that an average player would convert 3% of the time.

Several backseat finishers were convinced that Haaland should have stooped to head the ball over the line. Intriguingly, the towering 6’4 striker has not scored a header since the first Manchester derby of the season in October. Incidentally, that goal only came after Guardiola delivered an impromptu coaching session revolving around Haaland’s heading technique as the teams trotted off for half-time at Old Trafford.

Haaland has attempted 16 headed shots in the Premier League since his last aerial conversion – including his first two efforts of Sunday’s derby – without success.

Manchester United made a bright start to the second half yet that only opened up space for City to play. While Rashford and an apoplectic Ten Hag demanded a foul in City’s half, Foden jinked away from Victor Lindelof to spear a stunning equaliser into the top corner within ten minutes of the restart.

While Rashford was replaced by Antony – a forward yet to directly contribute to a top-flight goal this season – Foden still had some more magic left to weave. Tip-toeing in off the left flank, Foden exchanged passes with Julian Alvarez before firing into the far corner to put City in front.

Haaland duly got his goal to confirm all three points for City in stoppage time and ensure this enthralling title race ticks deeper into the season.