Manchester City's derby triumph over Manchester United was crowned when Ilkay Gundogan finished off a 44-pass move to make it 3-1 with four minutes remaining.
Pep Guardiola's style is well and truly ingrained in his team and United fans would have watched on with jealousy as City produced a stunning finale to go back to the top of the Premier League.
While Jose Mourinho's side lumped the ball long to Marouane Felllaini, Guardiola's City stroked the ball about with ease and calmly put the game to bed in fitting fashion.
Graeme Souness hailed their approach after the game, claiming Nemanja Matic had gone to sleep due to the mesmerising passing that led to the winner.
Every single outfield player touched the ball in the build-up before Bernardo Silva found Gundogan in the box and there were 113 seconds between Benjamin Mendy's first pass and Gundogan's finish.
'They end up passing oppositions to sleep. That third goal it was just pass, pass, pass and Matic has gone to sleep,' Souness said on Sky Sports.
'They mesmerise people with their passing and lure them into thinking they are just going to pass it and then whip it in.
'On this performance, City are a very special team.'
Anthony Martial's penalty had handed United a way back into the game after City dominated the opening hour at the Etihad Stadium.
Despite City not making sure the three points were safe until the 86th minute with their third goal, Sportsmail columnist Jamie Redknapp believes it would have been a 'travesty' if United had snatched a draw.
'You talk about a gulf in class and I completely agree. City are a joy to watch,' he said.
'It would have been a travesty if United had got something out of this game. I can't remember a shot from them since the goal.
'If you're waiting for a set piece in 90, 92 minutes, that's not good enough, you have to want more than that from your team.
'United have the quality in the team but they haven't got the system and know-how that City do.'