Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag got four decisions wrong in derby defeat to Man City

After beating Manchester City 2-1 at Old Trafford back in January, Manchester United found themselves just one point behind their rivals and title chatter started to creep into conversations.

Based on the evidence on show when the two sides went head-to-head on Sunday afternoon, however, it will be a very long time before title talk is heard in M16 again. The Reds, just as they were when they faced City in their first Premier League meeting last season, were toyed with and torn apart, even if the scoreline was not quite as harrowing on this occasion.

Two goals from Erling Haaland and a late tap-in from Phil Foden sealed the points for City, who controlled the second half with ease. They knocked the ball around at their own free will, unchallenged by United's wilting players, who could not get anywhere near them.

READ MORE: United player ratings vs City as Andre Onana impresses in damaging defeat

READ MORE: Erik ten Hag defends benching Raphael Varane vs City

Geographically, United and City are separated by just over four miles. However, Sunday's derby was a reminder that the difference in football terms is much, much greater.

For most United supporters, and perhaps most concerning of all, the 3-0 scoreline was not all that surprising. In fact, some feared it could have been even worse after the starting line-ups were revealed an hour before kick-off.

United's supporters were left scratching their heads when it was confirmed Jonny Evans was starting at centre-back and Victor Lindelof was playing at left-back. If that wasn't strange enough, glancing at the bench and seeing Raphael Varane and Sergio Reguilon being kept in reserve made Erik ten Hag's decisions all the more baffling.

Had the aforementioned duo been