Manchester City shows it’s the team to beat in Premier League

Manchester City delivered yet another reminder that it is the team to beat in the Premier League in this English soccer season.

On Sunday’s evidence, winning the league title looks beyond Manchester United.

A few hours after City thrashed Huddersfield 6-1 — mainly thanks to a hat trick by Sergio Aguero — United slumped to a 3-2 loss at Brighton after conceding three goals in a 20minute span in the first half.

City has already racked up eight goals in the first two games of its title defence.

Aguero looks in peak form, fit-again Benjamin Mendy is in rampaging mood down the left, while coach Pep Guardiola had the luxury of starting Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Riyad Mahrez on the bench against Huddersfield.

It looks a lot less rosy at the champions’ fierce rivals.

United’s difficult off-season — notable for the grumpiness of coach Jose Mourinho and the club’s struggles in the transfer market — was briefly forgotten about thanks to an openingday 2-1 win over Leicester last week.

But the loss to Brighton exposed weaknesses in United’s team, particularly its fragile defence in which centre backs Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof — Mourinho signings — were especially sluggish.

Mourinho failed to get a new central defender he craved, with his employers not prepared to spend any more money on that position. It might prove to be a big mistake.

After two games, City is one of five teams with a maximum of six points.

Another is Watford, which beat Burnley 3-1 away in the other game Sunday.

Sealed with a kiss

For Sergio Aguero, it was a performance sealed with a kiss.

Aguero had just scored his third goal in a brilliant individual display when he was substituted by Pep Guardiola, who kissed the Argentina striker on the cheek as he walked past him.

City’s other scorers were Gabriel Jesus, who started up front alongside Aguero in a 3-5-2 formation, and long-serving playmaker David Silva, who curled in a free kick early in the second half.

A miserable afternoon at Etihad Stadium for Huddersfield was wrapped up by Terence Kongolo’s 84th-minute own-goal.

City began its title defence by beating Arsenal 2-0 away last weekend, having earlier beaten Chelsea 2-0 in the season-opening Community Shield at Wembley Stadium.

Sloppy United

City’s clinic against Huddersfield was a tough act to follow for United and the sloppy display at Brighton highlighted the gulf between the rivals.

United fell apart in a bad spell at the end of the first half when Brighton scored through Glenn Murray, Shane Duffy and Pascal Gross. Woeful United never looked like pulling it back in the second half as Brighton defended stoutly.