Monday’s briefing: Man City take derby spoils as leaders leave it late

Erling Haaland scored twice after Phil Foden opened the scoring as Manchester City beat Manchester United 3-0.

The derby was a poignant occasion with tributes paid to boxing champion and City fan Ricky Hatton, whose death aged 46 was announced in the morning.

Elsewhere, last-gasp penalties kept Liverpool and Celtic on top of the pile either side of the border.

City increase heat on Amorim

Foden’s header and a brilliant Haaland brace secured City a 3-0 derby victory on a day when the rivals remembered the late, great Hatton.

The city, and wider sporting world, was rocked by the death of the popular boxer on Sunday, with both sets of fans applauding during a touching pre-match tribute to the lifelong City fan.

Then came an emphatic response from Pep Guardiola’s side to a pair of Premier League defeats before the international break, with the hosts overtaking Ruben Amorim’s much-scrutinised side in the table.

Afterwards Amorim said United will have to sack him before he changes his philosophy.

He has won just eight league games as United boss and admitted: “It is not a record we should have at Manchester United. I accept that but I am not going to change.

“When I want to change my philosophy I will change but, if not, you have to change the man.”

Reds relief as Burnley pay late penalty

Mohamed Salah’s penalty in the last minute of added time saw Liverpool snatch a 1-0 victory at Burnley.

Lesley Ugochukwu was sent off late on for a second bookable offence before stubborn Burnley eventually cracked when Jeremie Frimpong’s cross hit the arm of Hannibal Mejbri.

Salah, after missing his two previous attempts from the spot, rifled the ball high into the net to preserve the champions’ 100 per cent record this season.

Boss Arne Slot said: “They almost got a point so I’m not saying anything negative about it but it is difficult to outplay 11 players in their own 18-yard box and a draw was probably expected throughout the game.”

Despite the defeat Burnley boss Scott Parker was proud of his players.

“It’s really tough and I’m gutted for the players. We took the game to the 95th minute today and a penalty has decided it,” he said.

Iheanacho on the spot for Hoops

Debutant Kelechi Iheanacho also scored a last-gasp penalty as mutinous Celtic fans were left celebrating a 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock that moved them back to the top of the William Hill Premiership.

Daizen Maeda eased some of the tension when he headed the reigning champions in front with only his second goal since April.

But on a day when “sack the board” chants and banners were evident from the away end, it looked like the hierarchy were set to come under further pressure when David Watson headed Killie level in the 83rd minute.

With virtually the last kick of the match, however, Iheanacho – a free-agent signing after the transfer deadline, whose name was mis-spelt on his shirt – smashed home his spot-kick after fellow substitute James Forrest’s shot was adjudged to have been handled by Lewis Mayo.

Woltemade happy to catch eye of Shearer

Nick Woltemade was happy to have caught the eye of Newcastle “legend” Alan Shearer after powering home a header of which his predecessor would have been proud.

Debutant Woltemade marked his first appearance at St James’ Park with a superb finish from Jacob Murphy’s inviting cross, in the process sealing a 1-0 win over Wolves, the Magpies’ first of the season.

His contribution prompted Shearer, the Premier League’s record goalscorer and a renowned header of the ball, to take to his X account and post: “What a cross and an even better header”.

Asked about the former Newcastle captain’s comment, Woltemade said: “Of course he’s the legend. He scored a lot of goals and of course I’m happy about it.”

The 6ft 6in Germany international added: “I worked a lot on it the last weeks, the last months and the last year. With my height, I guess you have to. You can get more goals if you can have a good header.

“A header always feels good as a striker, especially if you work on it every week, so I was just happy when the ball was going in.”

What’s on today?

Very little on these shores, but over in Italy former Leicester striker Jamie Vardy could make his debut for Cremonese against Verona.

The 38-year-old signed for the newly-promoted Serie A club on a free transfer earlier this month after his 13 years with the Foxes came to an end.