27 MINUTES

inadequacies continue to surface. Before Sergio Aguero firmly nodded home instalment one of his hat-trick, Richarlison actually had a free header from six yards. It probably would have been the difference between 0-6 and 1-6, but it was a City flaw all the same. To dwell on flaws for longer than a moment, though, would be an insult to a quite imperious body of work. It was hard to flick your gaze quickly enough to do each contributor justice. Inside a stunned Vicarage Road, the emphatic thud of first-time passing assailed the ears. This display even sounded good. Trust me. Kevin De Bruyne was almost too good to be kicked, even though Jose Holebas tried his best.

The assist for Aguero’s first was from De Bruyne, the assist for his second was from David Silva, who probably reverse passes the salt at dinner-time. Aguero’s selflessness swells by the game, which is some feat, considering he remains ravenous for goals.

His third – City’s fifth – was a typically wriggling, individual effort. The most underappreciated Premier League striker of his generation even had time to set up another for Gabriel Jesus and allow Raheem Sterling to wrap up proceedings with a penalty.

Considering Sterling had earned it, fair enough.

The selfless approach and the camaraderie comes easily when you are winning plenty to nothing in game after game.

And there is no doubting the joy coursing through this City team right now.

Tests of character will come, the pressure that comes with being part of such an expensively assembled, lavishly gifted squad will grow.

That is for sure and Guardiola knows it, knows that performances like this show there is no room for excuses this season.

But, then again, if everyone wants to just enjoy this for a while, they should.

It was special.

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