City boss salutes sublime Sergio

MANCHESTER City manager Pep Guardiola said Sergio Aguero was “an authentic legend of this club” after the Argentine’s four-goal haul in the Premier League rout of Leicester City yesterday. The win extended City’s Premier League lead to 16 points while Harry Kane netted again as Tottenham Hotspur beat north London rival Arsenal.

Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan was the hero for Brighton and Hove Albion in its draw at Stoke City.

After a sluggish first half in the early kick-off in front of a Premier League record crowd of 83,222 at Wembley, Kane jumped highest to head home his seventh derby goal in seven games and 23rd in the league this season. Spurs, which would have won by a greater margin but for an inspired performance from goalkeeper Petr Cech, climbed two places to third while Arsenal sits six points adrift of Liverpool in fourth and Juergen Klopp’s side has a game in hand.

At the Etihad Stadium, Aguero and the brilliant Kevin De Bruyne, who contributed three assists, were in inspired form as City blew away Leicester City in the second half to seal a 5-1 result — its 23rd league victory from 27 games.

“Sergio is like this, he has a special talent in the box. He is clinical. We are so happy, we need his goals,” Guardiola said.

After Raheem Sterling and Jamie Vardy exchanged firsthalf goals, Aguero took over and effectively ended the game with two strikes within eight minutes after the break.

The forward completed his hat-trick with a delicate chip before adding a fourth with an unstoppable drive that crashed in off the crossbar.