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By Emmanuel Adeleke
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland became the first player to score three successive Premier League home hat tricks as Manchester United were thrashed in the derby at Etihad Stadium, on Sunday.
Haaland’s rampage this season continued as he made it 17 goals in 10 matches, since his move from Borussia Dortmund.
The Norwegian has taken his premier league tally to 14 goals in eight games so far in the league.
Phil Foden also scored his first hat trick for City as they closed the gap on Arsenal at the top for the table to one point.
City’s lightning start was rewarded when Foden swept home Bernardo Silva’s cross after eight minutes before Haaland inevitably joined the action with a header from a corner 11 minutes before half-time.
As United were in shambles, Haaland slid in a third from Kevin de Bruyne’s perfect pass then turned provider to set up a simple finish for Foden before the break.
United’s new signing Antony struck a superb goal from 25 yards to pull one back but it only provoked City to up the tempo again, Haaland thumping home his third from Sergio Gomez’s cross before showing he can be creator by setting up Foden for City’s sixth.
Haaland’s third put him in the record books following hat-tricks at the Etihad Stadium against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.
Anthony Martial’s late goal for United was greeted in near silence, as was his added-time penalty, on a day of embarrassment for the Red Devils and manager Erik ten Hag.