Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action

1 Foden and Rodri pep up rampant City 

Manchester City are inevitable. It’s the quality that struck such fear into Manchester United in a derby that rarely seemed destined to be anything other than victory for the champions. And that includes the 48 minutes United were a goal ahead. 

Liverpool and Arsenal could only look on in vain hope, even when Erling Haaland delivered one of the greatest misses in Premier League history. City kept their cool. United’s latest derby humbling reminded there is so much more to Pep Guardiola’s team than the Kevin De Bruyne-Haaland partnership. At 23, it can feel like there are no more worlds to conquer for Phil Foden, the match-winner. 

And Rodri, who performs the same safety-catch service Sergio Busquets supplied for Guardiola’s Barcelona team, remained switched on in the dying seconds to rob Sofyan Amrabat and set up a cleansing goal for Haaland. United players left the field exhausted by attempting to live with the untouchable. John Brewin 

Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United

2 Rashford fades after thunderbolt 

Erik ten Hag reached for “small margins” in lamenting a derby defeat he argued might have gone his team’s way. His suggestion that his team’s defending was “brilliant” might also raise eyebrows. Ten Hag’s credibility is further damaged by 11 Premier League defeats. 

Perhaps one day a United side might pitch up at the Etihad, Emirates or Anfield and not merely attempt to defend deep. That seems some time away. To follow his heartfelt contribution to the Players’ Tribune, Marcus Rashford, isolated up front, reportedly playing through injury, showed off his best and more frustrating facets. 

His first-half goal was a thunderbolt from a player who often assumes centre stage in