IT was a day when Manchester was divided by a bloody, vast chasm in football.

Manchester City’s modern footballing greats humiliated their shambling mid-table hosts as both sets of supporters joined forces to salute the late Sir Bobby Charlton.

Erling Haaland inspired Manchester City with two goals and an assist

Manchester United have lost half of their Premier League games this season

Haaland headed in a second to put his side in control after half-time

City move back up to third with the win

Erling Haaland scored twice and set up the third for Phil Foden, but the Norwegian would have had five goals if Andre Onana hadn’t made three spectacular saves.

Pep Guardiola was only being honest when he stated that United were not his team’s main rivals during his seven-year tenure at the Etihad, and the gap between the two teams is only growing.

Erik Ten Hag’s side has now lost five of their first ten Premier League games, and the Dutchman has watched his side decline dramatically following a promising debut season.

Guardiola’s Treble-winners are still two points behind surprise leaders Tottenham, but it will be a surprise if they do not win their fourth Premier League title in a row and sixth in seven seasons.

The pre-game tributes to Sir Bobby were as elegant as one would expect.

Six United and City veterans from the 1960s gathered in the center circle for a minute of applause and a large Stretford End banner proclaiming Sir Bobby as “The Finest English Footballer The World Has Ever Seen.”

City’s supporters joined in with the applause but soon started telling the home supporters that they were champions of Europe and that Old Trafford is ‘coming down’.

Guardiola has previously stated that Liverpool were his team’s main rivals and that United would never be able to dominate again like they had under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Nonetheless, the derby had been a wonderful leveler, with United having won seven games in a row over Guardiola’s City.

Onana had been the injury-time hero in the Champions League on Tuesday, saving a penalty to prevent Copenhagen from equalizing, and he was at it again after eight minutes of the derby.

Rodri’s lofted pass found Kyle Walker, who nodded back for Foden to head goalwards, but United’s Cameroonian goalkeeper punched it away and then recovered to sweep the ball away from Haaland, who was poised to pounce.

Onana saved a Grealish shot, and the only time United fans erupted early on was when Harry Maguire won a huge duel with Haaland.

City had definitely been on top, but they took the lead in unusual circumstances when VAR Michael Oliver spotted Rasmus Hojlund tugging on Rodri as United defended a free-kick.

It wasn’t really ‘clear and apparent,’ more like most attacking set-pieces, but when Oliver, the senior man, sent Paul Tierney to his monitor, the ref pointed to the spot.

Haaland rolled into one corner while Onana dived for the other, and City took the lead.

United’s intermittent threats were mainly the result of poor City passes, such as Foden’s effort that let in Hojlund, only for John Stones and Ederson to combine and put the Dane too wide for an effective finish.

Bruno Fernandes cleaned out Jack Grealish with an aerial challenge on the touchline, while Sofyan Amrabat and Foden were both booked for rutting.

Marcus Rashford’s instinctive angled pass found Scott McTominay in injury time, who controlled, swiveled, and unleashed a shot that Ederson palmed wide.

But the half concluded with more Onana heroics as he produced an incredible save to deny Haaland’s point-blank header from a Bernardo Silva cross – an effort that had elements of Gordon Banks and Pele.

McTominay had been playing as a No. 10 in the first half but was pushed back into a deeper role when Mason Mount came on to replace Amrabat at halftime.

It didn’t make a difference because City increased their advantage within four minutes with an absolute gem of a move.

Rodri passed and moved with pace and murderous intent, finding Julian Alvarez, who shifted it to Grealish, who feed Bernardo for a left-wing cross for Haaland, who headed it past Onana.

City’s passage had stretched United so far that Haaland went unnoticed, which would not have been in Ten Hag’s master plan.

Grealish came close to making it 3-0 twice, with one attempt blocked by Onana and another whistling wide across goal.

Christian Eriksen reminded us that there was some quality in the United team just as the class disparity was beginning to look preposterous.

His magnificent deep diagonal pass set up Rashford, who shot wide on the turn.

Normal business was restored, however, as Grealish slipped a pass to Haaland, who attempted to chip the approaching Onana but was denied by another excellent save.

Ten Hag was booed for replacing Hojlund with Alejandro Garnacho, while the ineffective Rashford moved to center-forward.

When Rodri unleashed a rocket from outside the box, Onana could only push out to Haaland, who squared for Foden to poke over the line.