Manchester United beat Manchester City in convincing style with a 4-2 victory over their rivals at Old Trafford.
City were bidding for a fifth successive derby win and took the lead in the eighth minute as Sergio Aguero tapped in David Silva’s cross.
But United responded well, levelling in the 14th minute through Ashley Young before going ahead just before the half-hour mark when Marouane Fellaini headed home.
Juan Mata made it 3-1 midway through the second half and Chris Smalling extended the advantage further not long afterwards.
Aguero pulled a late goal back for City but it was nothing more than a consolation as United recorded their sixth consecutive Premier League win and moved four points ahead of their rivals in the table.
For City, it is their sixth defeat in their last eight matches in all competitions and puts an emphatic end to their dominance over United in recent years.
Earlier in the day Chelsea increased their lead at the top of the Premier League table with a 1-0 win at QPR. Cesc Fabregas’s late goal sealed Chelsea’s win at Loftus Road as Jose Mourinho’s side went seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal with seven games to play.
Victory at Loftus Road means Chelsea need just 11 points from their remaining games to claim a fourth Premier League title