CHRIS WHEELER: Erling Haaland and Rasmus Hojlund are simply worlds apart

Ten past two on Sunday, and the Manchester City squad got off the team bus to a smattering of half-hearted boos from the home fans gathered around the players’ entrance at Old Trafford. Just about everything United threw at City here was half-hearted.

The noise levels rose marginally – and predictably – when it was Erling Haaland’s turn to disembark, but the City striker met the jeers with a broad grin.

There was a swagger and an air of self-confidence about the Norwegian as he made his way to the door, as if he knew exactly what was going to happen next. Deep down, the United fans probably did too.

They taunted him with chants of ‘Keano’ in tribute to the former United captain whose waist-high tackle on his dad here more than 22 years ago played a part in ending Alfie Haaland’s career. But when City were awarded a penalty midway through the first half, Haaland junior rammed the spot-kick past Andre Onana and the taunts down their throats.

‘People were singing ‘Keano’ to me. I don't know why, but it was a nice celebration and a nice game,’ said Haaland afterwards, still grinning.

He headed City’s second and then set up the third for Phil Foden. Were it not for Andre Onana, he could have had a few more. The United keeper touched the ball off Haaland’s toes in front of goal in the eighth minute, somehow kept out a header on the stroke of half-time and thwarted him one-on-one in the second half. ‘I chipped it and he saved it with his head!’ marvelled Haaland.

But it’s still five goals in three Premier League derbies for Haaland. Only Sergio Aguero has netted more for City in the league, and it took the Argentine 13 games to reach eight.

Consider this: Haaland’s total of 11 league goals this season is equal to the entire United