Fierce Manchester rivalry looking a bit one-sided
Manchester City delivered yet another reminder that it’s the team to beat in the Premier League this season.
Based 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 20-minute 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, fitagain Benjamin Mendy is rampaging down the left flank, 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 for 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 opening day 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 Aguero, it was a performance sealed with a kiss.
He had just scored his third goal in a brilliant individual display when he was substituted by Guardiola, who kissed the Argentina striker on the cheek as he walked past him.
Aguero began the rout with a goal that started with a pinpoint 70-metre ball forward from Ederson right to the feet of Aguero, who cut inside and chipped one by the opposition goalkeeper.
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
UNITED IN SLOPPINESS
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.
Slow in possession, United fell apart at the end of the first half when Brighton got goals from Glenn Murray, Shane Duffy — from a corner — and Pascal Gross, who converted a penalty after being fouled by Bailly.
Romelu Lukaku had made it 2-1 with a glancing header following Luke Shaw’s bouncing shot from the edge of the area, but United never looked like they could pull it back in the second half as Brighton defended stoutly.
Paul Pogba converted a penalty with virtually the last kick of the game.
A WIN FOR WATFORD
For the second straight year, Watford has started fast.
A 3-1 win at Burnley gave Watford a second straight win to open the campaign, moving the team to six points along with City, Tottenham, Chelsea and Bournemouth.
Andre Gray, Troy Deeney and Will Hughes scored for the winners, with James Tarkowski replying.