Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League table thanks to a convincing Manchester derby victory.

Goals from David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan secured three points against a Manchester United team who look some way off their local rivals.

Paul Pogba sat the game out having picked up an injury and his United side only briefly threatened when Anthony Martial converted a penalty after Ederson fouled Romelu Lukaku.

It was a blistering opening spell from the champions who were finding pockets of space all over the pitch. Aguero had an early chance but couldn’t sort his feet out, and was perhaps distracted by teammate Bernardo Silva in close proximity.

Somehow two City players had managed to escape their markers in the same part of the pitch.

The opening goal, scored by Silva following good play from Raheem Sterling and Bernardo, was deserved, but in some ways it signalled the end of the home side's first-half dominance. 

They still had plenty of the ball but United began to use their physicality to win a few more 50-50s and made their way up the pitch on a couple of occasions.

"The first half was not so good,” commented City manager Pep Guardiola. 

“We play like 'I don't want to lose the ball' but with no intention to attack or do something with it.

“After the first goal we didn’t find our normal game. It was difficult as they are so aggressive.”

However, City began the second half as they had the first. They soon added to their lead when Aguero blasted past David de Gea following a one-two with Riyad Mahrez.

It looked like game over, but United were handed a lifeline when City goalkeeper Ederson felled Lukaku just 30 seconds after the striker had replaced Jesse Lingard. The coolest man in Manchester, Martial, stepped up and tucked away the penalty.

Guardiola's side continued to dominate possession but the visitors were occasionally able to dig out an attack. This brought its own dangers as City were then able to use the pace of Sterling and substitute Leroy Sane on the counter.

But it was a carefully put together passing move which led to their third, and was finished off when substitute Gundogan evaded some nonexistent United defending to turn home Bernardo’s cross.

“If the third goal is scored in one of the moments they were dominating I probably would say that [the result reflected the game],” said United manager Jose Mourinho. 

“But the third goal came in moment when we were fighting to try to get an equaliser. The game was open until the 86th minute. 

“No-one left the stadium until the third goal because the game was still open.”

Stoppage time arrived and City’s local boy Phil Foden was given a taste of the derby. He went looking for the ball, unfazed by the occasion as his side had been for the whole game, passing their way back to the top of the table.