**Manchester Showdown: City Cruises, United Sinks Further**
Manchester, Sep 15 (AP) The Manchester derby unfolded with familiar themes as Manchester City reasserted dominance and Manchester United continued to languish. City triumphed with a powerful 3-0 victory in the 197th derby, leaving United coach Ruben Amorim grappling with mounting challenges. The lopsided affair at the Etihad Stadium could have been a greater embarrassment for United, as City threatened to transform the match into a rout.
Erling Haaland was pivotal once again, scoring twice in the second half and narrowly missing a hat trick when he hit the post. Having already netted five times for Norway against Moldova earlier in the week, Haaland has now tallied seven goals in the span of a week. Phil Foden opened the scoring with a header in the 18th minute, setting Pep Guardiola's side on a path of command.
City's convincing win broke a two-game losing streak and brought some relief in what has otherwise been a faltering start to their season. Conversely, Amorim’s struggles at United deepen. Following a catastrophic League Cup exit to fourth-tier Grimsby, Amorim's ambitions to revive United seem distant. In his post-match address to disconsolate United fans, he assured, "I will do everything, always thinking about what is best for the club."
Pressure mounts for Amorim beyond the derby fiasco. Jim Ratcliffe, United's co-owner, witnessed another setback after investing heavily in the squad to restart their ascent. United's current campaign reflects only one win in five fixtures across all competitions, with a singular victory against Burnley secured by a late Bruno Fernandes penalty.
Since Amorim's appointment last November, United’s record is dismal, with just eight wins in 31 Premier League matchups. Last season's 15th position was emblematic of ongoing struggles. Despite the sorry statistics, Amorim remains staunch in his philosophy: "It's not a record that you should have at Manchester United," he admitted, adding, "When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man.”
While United grapples with its predicament, Haaland’s form is noteworthy. Across competitions, he has racked up 11 goals in six matches for club and country. His clinical finishes in the 53rd and 68th minutes against United were supplemented by a near miss that would have added a third. Phil Foden hailed it as a “complete performance,” and Guardiola praised him as a “special player.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool secured a dramatic win against Burnley thanks to Mohamed Salah’s stoppage-time penalty, restoring them to the top of the Premier League standings. "We don't give up. We just try to push ourselves and our team to the limit," Salah remarked.
Salah's decisive goal came after a late incident involving Hannibal Mejbri, who handled the ball in the box, allowing Liverpool to clinch victory. With this win, Salah moves into fourth place on the Premier League’s all-time scorer list, amassing 188 goals behind only iconic forwards Alan Shearer, Harry Kane, and Wayne Rooney.
Liverpool is carving out a reputation for late-game heroics, scoring winning goals in the final ten minutes of four consecutive matches, according to Premier League statisticians. Arne Slot, Liverpool’s coach, acknowledged the blend of fortune and resilience his side has shown.
The unfolding Premier League narrative continues to underscore City’s pursuit of stability and revival, contrasted with United’s quest for identity and resurrection. The latest results amplify key storylines in the intriguing saga of English football.
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