Man City 4-1 Man Utd: Player ratings as De Bruyne shines in derby drubbing
From Etihad Stadium - Manchester City moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League table after a comfortable 4-1 derby win over neighbours Manchester United.
City took the honours in what was the 50th Premier League contest between these two rivals, and Pep Guardiola's side were on a different level to Ralf Rangnick's men - who had David De Gea to thank for preventing the scoreline from being embarrassing.
Kevin De Bruyne claimed a brace as he stole the show, and he also managed to create City's third for Riyad Mahrez who then added a fourth late on. United were briefly level in the first half thanks to Jadon Sancho's brilliant finish, but that was as good as it got for the visitors.
City had gone ahead with their first attack of the game as Bernardo Silva pulled the ball back into the box for De Bruyne to slam the ball home from just 12 yards out.
United were level before the 20-minute mark as they countered through Sancho - whose every touch was booed by the home fans following his decision to quit the club earlier in his career. He cut inside the box to curl home brilliantly beyond Ederson.
With United playing a strange looking 4-2-4 and pushing players up whenever they could, the game was wide open with City carving out numerous chances.
A flicked header from Phil Foden was almost perfect but his effort just clipped the top of the bar with De Gea beaten.
City re-took the lead just before the half-hour mark as De Bruyne doubled his tally for the day.
Foden was at the centre of things again but was denied by De Gea after he embarrassed Victor Lindelof with a great flick over his head. The Spaniard's save could not be cleared though, and Alex Telles inadvertently presented De Bruyne with the ball six yards out and he made no mistake.
Foden should have made it three shortly before the break after being sent through by De Bruyne, but he pulled his shot across goal.
In the second half City took over and they could and should have extended their lead just after the interval. Again it was Foden creating the danger, this time he out-muscled Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the edge of the box but could only fire wide with only De Gea to beat.
Mahrez then won a free-kick on the hour, and De Bruyne could smell his hat-trick and struck it well, but De Gea was behind it.
The third soon arrived with little over 20 minutes to go and it was a brilliant finish as De Bruyne's corner found Mahrez on the edge of the box who he finished clinically.
De Gea was then called upon to make a string of saves but he could not keep out the fourth as Mahrez broke clear and slammed home as it deflected in off the Spaniard's face.
The win sees City maintain their six-point advantage over title rivals Liverpool, and due to Arsenal's win at Watford United find themselves in fifth.
Manchester City player ratings
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Ederson (GK) - 6/10 - Could do little to stop Sancho's goal.
Kyle Walker (RB) - 7/10 - Good contest with Sancho but he will be disappointed on the goal.
John Stones (CB) - 6/10 - Some erratic passing but solid enough.
Aymeric Laporte (CB) - 8/10 - Composed throughout and was the pick of City's defenders.
Joao Cancelo (LB) - 7/10 - Largely untroubled but was pressed back by United and didn't get forward as he can.
2. Midfielders
Kevin De Bruyne (CM) - 10/10 - Two goals and an assist. His passing was a joy to behold, simply stunning performance from the Belgian maestro.
Rodri (CDM) - 9/10 - Held the shape brilliantly throughout and made some key challenges but never looked troubled.
Bernardo Silva (CM) - 8/10 - Busy, always wanted the ball - a pain that United had no cure for.
3. Forwards
Riyad Mahrez (RF) - 9/10 - Created a good chance for himself in the first-half but was better in the second as converted brilliantly on two occasions.
Phil Foden (F9) - 8/10 - Some wonderful passing and vision, should have been on the score-sheet.
Jack Grealish (LF) - 7/10 - Worked hard and looks like he starting to learn the City system.
4. Substitutes
Ilkay Gundogan - (80' for De Bruyne) - N/A
Manchester United player ratings
5. Goalkeeper and defenders
David De Gea (GK) - 8/10 - Did his best and made some special saves, little he could do.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (RB) - 2/10 - Was the focal point for City's attacks - struggled to cope. Poor, very poor.
Victor Lindelof (CB) - 3/10 - Not great and Foden did his best to embarrass him.
Harry Maguire (CB) - 2/10 - Some strong challenges but his distribution was awful. If he put as much effort into his defending as he does moaning at the referee he and United would be better for it.
Alex Telles (LB) - 3/10 - At fault for second goal with a shoddy clearance.
6. Midfielders
Fred (CM) - 4/10 - Offered little to the side in any aspect.
Scott McTominay (CM) - 4/10 - Mistake ridden first-half, lucky not to cost his side more.
7. Forwards
Anthony Elanga (RW) - 4/10 - Hardly saw the ball but needed to get involved more.
Bruno Fernandes (F9) - 4/10 - Looked a bit lost, not sure he knew where he was meant to be playing.
Paul Pogba (F10) - 4/10 - A strange advanced role, some neat touches but not his best game.
Jadon Sancho (LW) - 7/10 - A threat and just about got the better of Kyle Walker - good effort.
8. Substitutes
Jesse Lingard - (65' for Elanga) - 3/10 - Had no impact on proceedings.
Marcus Rashford - (65' for Pogba) - 3/10 - One good run but barely saw the ball.