Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez braces see City beat United in Manchester derby

Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez struck derby doubles as Manchester City condemned rivals Manchester United to a humbling 4-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

The 187th Manchester derby started frantically but ended with the Premier League champions in cruise control as Pep Guardiola’s leaders restored their six-point advantage over Liverpool at the top of the standings.

De Bruyne’s early opener was superbly cancelled out by former City prospect Jadon Sancho, only for the Belgium star to strike his second and Mahrez to grab a second-half brace in a deserved win against Ralf Rangnick’s wretched Red Devils.

It was a rare Etihad Stadium defeat for United, whose hopes of a fourth straight away win on enemy turf in all competitions were hit inside five minutes when the hosts all too easily sliced them open.

The shine was taken off De Bruyne’s 50th Premier League goal when Sancho ended a great United break with a fine finish, but the 30-year-old would soon have another when firing home during a melee.

The Belgium playmaker turned provider when Mahrez lashed home from his corner – via a slight touch off hapless Harry Maguire – and the Algeria international adding to the party atmosphere by grabbing another at the death after a VAR review.

This is just the second time City have done the double over United since Guardiola took over and represented a second league loss under Rangnick, who was without Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani, Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw on Sunday.

The interim boss decided to play Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes as a front two against City, who all too easily bypassed United’s front six in the fifth minute.

Bernardo Silva ended up with the ball and linked up with Jack Grealish down the left, before cutting