Foden takes derby by scruff of the neck as dominant City stroll home

EIGHT minutes of added time.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

The board went up as the 90th minute approach to show eight minutes of added time.

There was arguably enough for eight given some of the timewasting that had gone on and the substitutions, yet City hadn't made the match safe and eight minutes was given the day before when Liverpool changed the title race at the death.

Pep Guardiola called for more and more was duly given as Rodri pounced on sloppy play from United and fed Erling Haaland for the third. The Norwegian seemed to call for the Poznan and the crowd duly delivered, scare forgotten and Liverpool now in the crosshairs.

Making it even sweeter, that City could celebrate with such joy and relief was largely down to one of their own.

When City needed a focus for their play and some incision, up stepped Phil Foden to give the watching Guardiola and England manager Gareth Southgate more evidence of what should be clear to both by now - Foden must be an automatic pick in their teams.

Not only did Foden get the Blues back into the game after a shocking start, he took responsibility to put them ahead in it. Having done all that, he still had the energy to force United substitute Antony to put the ball out, before roaring to the crowd beside him.

Guardiola had his hands above his head, clapping, for it was all he could do. There could be no notes for City's homegrown superstar on a day when he single-handedly turned this one around for the team and kept them pointing forward.

City came into this game with a proud unbeaten record, both in all competitions dating back 19 games and at the Etihad dating back 16 months.