Manchester City has rediscovered their winning momentum, while arch-rivals Manchester United find themselves back at square one. City delivered an absolute masterclass in the 197th Manchester derby, securing a resounding 3-0 victory. It was another deeply disappointing day for United’s coach, Ruben Amorim, as the scoreline could have been far more embarrassing for the red side of Manchester, with City appearing poised to completely overwhelm them at the Etihad Stadium.
Erling Haaland continued his sensational form, bagging two goals in the second half and even hitting the post, bringing his tally to an incredible seven goals in a single week – a feat that included a five-goal haul for Norway against Moldova earlier. Phil Foden set the tone for City’s dominance, heading in the opening goal in the 18th minute, and from that point, Pep Guardiola’s squad remained firmly in control.
This crucial victory snapped City’s recent two-game losing streak, offering a much-needed boost after what had been a somewhat shaky start to their season. In stark contrast, the pressure is rapidly escalating for United manager Ruben Amorim. His team’s current campaign has already been marred by a humiliating early exit from the English League Cup at the hands of fourth-tier side Grimsby.
Following the match, a visibly dejected Amorim addressed the frustrated United supporters, stating, “I will do everything, always thinking about what is best for the club. I really want to win games, so I’m suffering more than them.” Meanwhile, in another thrilling Premier League encounter, Mohamed Salah dramatically converted a stoppage-time penalty, securing a narrow 1-0 victory for Liverpool over Burnley and propelling them back to the league’s top spot.
Mounting Pressure on Amorim
United’s most recent disappointment unfolded before a solemn-faced co-owner, Jim Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe had brought Amorim in last year with the ambitious goal of restoring the 20-time English champions to European football’s elite, and had provided substantial backing in the summer transfer window. However, any hopes of a swift resurgence now seem distant.
This season, United has managed just one win in five competitive matches – a narrow 3-2 triumph against Burnley, which itself only came courtesy of a stoppage-time penalty from Bruno Fernandes. Since his appointment last November, Amorim’s tenure has seen only eight victories in 31 Premier League games. Under his leadership, the team suffered its lowest modern-era league finish last season, languishing in 15th place.
“It’s not a record that you should have at Manchester United,” Amorim conceded, yet he steadfastly defends his tactical approach. He asserted, “When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man. I believe my way and I’m going to play my way until I want to change.” The coach further commented, “I see that we are doing better, but then the results don’t show that.” Despite these remarks, securing only four points from four games marks United’s most dismal start to a season since 1992.
Haaland’s Lethal Form Continues
Erling Haaland has truly been in devastating form for both club and country this season. Across six combined appearances for Manchester City and Norway, he has astonishingly netted 11 goals, with his only blank coming in last month’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham. Against United, he showcased his clinical edge with two perfectly executed finishes in the 53rd and 68th minutes, slicing through United’s defense. He was even denied a hat-trick by the post. Teammate Phil Foden lauded it as a ‘complete performance,’ while manager Pep Guardiola simply called the Norwegian striker a ‘special player.’
Liverpool’s Last-Gasp Victory
In typical fashion, Liverpool delivered another late surge, propelling themselves back to the top of the Premier League table. The reigning champions maintained their perfect start to the season, all thanks to Mohamed Salah’s decisive penalty. “We don’t give up. We just try to push ourselves and our team to the limit,” Salah remarked to Sky Sports after the thrilling win.
Having already secured last-minute winners against Bournemouth and Newcastle earlier this season, Liverpool once again orchestrated a dramatic conclusion at Turf Moor. Arne Slot’s side seemed destined to drop their first points of the campaign until a crucial moment: Hannibal Mejbri’s handball in the box led to referee Michael Oliver awarding a penalty. Salah stepped up confidently, unleashing a thunderous strike past Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, celebrating as his goal, scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time, cemented Liverpool’s victory. This decisive goal also saw Salah climb to fourth place in the all-time Premier League scoring charts with 188 goals, trailing only Alan Shearer (260), Harry Kane (213), and Wayne Rooney (208). While it brought late jubilation for Liverpool, it meant more agonizing late heartbreak for newly promoted Burnley, who had suffered a similar 3-2 defeat to Manchester United in their previous outing.
Relief and Reflection for Slot
Premier League statisticians Opta highlighted Liverpool’s remarkable achievement: they are the first team in the division’s history to score winning goals in the final ten minutes or later in four consecutive matches. Whether this trend signifies an unshakeable winning mentality or hints at underlying issues for a team frequently needing to escape precarious situations remains to be seen. In this particular match, against a Burnley side reduced to ten men after Lesley Ugochukwu’s 84th-minute red card, Liverpool relied on a defensive lapse from Mejbri – a handball from Jeremie Frimpong’s cross – to secure the crucial points. “We needed a moment of luck, or a moment of magic. We didn’t have the magic, but we had the luck,” Slot conceded to the BBC, adding, “You are hoping and trying to make it more difficult, but they were strong.”