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MARIO BALOTELLI answered his critics in style by netting twice as Manchester City sent a chilling message to the rest of the Premier League at Old Trafford. Balotelli opened the scoring after 22 minutes when James Milner picked up David Silva's pass and invitingly rolled the ball across the box for him to stroke beyond David de Gea. The Italian, who hit the headlines yesterday after a bathroom at his house was set ablaze with a firework, celebrated by unveiling a T-shirt with 'Why always me?' emblazoned on it � for which he was promptly booked by referee Mark Clattenburg. Balotelli was at the heart of the action again just over a minute into the second half when Jonny Evans was red-carded for hauling him back as he raced onto Sergio Aguero's pass. Despite having 10 men, Manchester United pushed hard for an equaliser but were effectively killed off when Balotelli converted Silva's low cross in the 60th minute. Silva netted the third nine minutes later and Darren Fletcher's strike proved to be little more than a consolation as substitute Edin Dzeko made it 4-1 a minute from time. But there was worse to come for United when Silva and then Dzeko scored again to wrap up the win and send City five points clear of their bitter rivals at the top of the table. United showed early attacking intent with Nani twice testing Micah Richards down the left. The Portuguese winger first won a free-kick and then a corner but City dealt comfortably with both set-pieces. The visitors threatened for the first time when a Milner shot deflected harmlessly into De Gea's arms. Play immediately switched ends and Ashley Young bent in another free-kick but Balotelli was back to head clear. Wayne Rooney then went down in the box under a challenge from Vincent Kompany as United continued to force the pace, only for Clattenburg to wave play on. Despite their quieter start, it was City who took the lead through none other than Balotelli following good work from Silva and Milner. Roberto Mancini's men surged forward again soon after the restart but Yaya Toure shot well wide from 30 yards. United responded with Anderson firing straight at Joe Hart after the keeper had punched away a corner and Rooney also tested his England team-mate from range. Rooney turned creator as the hosts probed for another opening, cushioning Young's cross into the path of Evans. The Northern Ireland international had plenty of time and space to test Hart but succeeded in fluffing the chance by miskicking as he swung his right boot at the ball. Kompany was booked for bringing down Danny Welbeck as United tried to launch another counter-attack but City held firm until the break. Within two minutes of the second half, the hosts pressed the self-destruct button when Aguero released Balotelli and Evans needlessly grabbed the striker's arm before pulling him back to concede a free-kick. The defender pleaded his innocence but Clattenburg immediately reached for his pocket and gave him his marching orders before Balotelli cracked the set-piece into United's wall. Another moment of controversy quickly followed when Richards was sent tumbling in the box but this time the match official waved away City's appeals. The game continued to swing from end to end with Young miscuing a shot after good work from Fletcher and Aguero narrowly failing to get his boot on a dangerous cross. Young was again involved in the 56th minute, twisting and turning Richards before forcing the right-back to make a last-gasp block and concede a corner. City struggled to clear their lines and Chris Smalling won another corner before Rooney fired harmlessly at Hart as the hour mark approached.