ON THAT DAY, a bloody enormous chasm in footballing class divided Manchester.

Manchester City’s modern footballing greats humiliated their shambling mid-table hosts as both sets of fans united to pay tribute to the late Sir Bobby Charlton.

9Erling Haaland inspired Manchester City with two goals and an assistCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun9Manchester United have lost half of their Premier League games this seasonCredit: Getty9Haaland headed in a second to put his side in control after half-timeCredit: Reuters9City move back up to third with the winCredit: Getty

9City dominated the Derby in every way.

Erling Haaland scored twice and assisted on Phil Foden’s third, but the Norwegian would have had five if Andre Onana hadn’t made three fantastic saves.

When Pep Guardiola declared that United were not his team’s major rivals throughout his seven-year time at the Etihad, he was just being honest, and the gap between the two teams is only expanding.

Erik Ten Hag’s side has now lost five of their first ten Premier League games, and the Dutchman has seen his team deteriorate considerably after a promising initial 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 succession and sixth in the last seven seasons.

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

Six Manchester United and Manchester City veterans from the 1960s gathered in the center circle for a minute of applause, and a big Stretford End proclaimed 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 ‘falling down’.

Guardiola has previously indicated that Liverpool are his team’s major rivals and that Manchester United would never be able to dominate as they did under Sir Alex Ferguson.

9Bernardo Silva proved he is a big-game player once again

Nonetheless, the derby had been a fantastic leveller, with United having won seven consecutive games over Guardiola’s City.

Onana had been the Champions League’s injury-time hero 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 was intercepted by Kyle Walker, who nodded back for Foden to head goalwards, but United’s Cameroonian goalkeeper punched it away and then recovered to whisk the ball away from Haaland, who was prepared to pounce.

Onana saved a Grealish shot, and the only time United fans exploded early on was when Harry Maguire beat Haaland in a big duel.

City had clearly been the better team, but they took the lead via odd circumstances when VAR Michael Oliver saw Rasmus Hojlund tugging on Rodri as United defended a free kick.

It wasn’t exactly ‘clear and obvious,’ as most attacking set-pieces are, but when Oliver – the senior man – sent Paul Tierney to his monitor, the ref pointed to the spot.

City seized the lead after Haaland rolled into one corner while Onana dived for the other.

United’s occasional threats were mostly the product of poor City passes, such as Foden’s effort that let in Hojlund, only for John Stones and Ederson to combine and throw the Dane too wide for a good finish.

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

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

However, the half ended with more Onana heroics, as he produced an unbelievable stop to deny Haaland’s point-blank header from a Bernardo Silva cross – an effort that resembled Gordon Banks and Pele.