Man City stoked after seven-goal brilliance

Manchester City opened up a twopoint lead over their neighbours Manchester United at the top of the Premier League yesterday, thanks to another display of scintillating brilliance in a 7-2 thrashing of Stoke City at the Etihad Stadium.

After the earlier high noon showdown between Liverpool and a United side lacking in any great ambition ended in goalless stalemate at Anfield, City cashed in with a third straight league match at the Etihad in which they have struck at least five goals.

Pep Guardiola’s men became the first team to net 29 goals in their first eight league games of a top-flight campaign in England since Everton 1894-95.

Their sixth consecutive league win moved them to 22 points with United on 20 and Tottenham Hotspur staying third on 17 after finally earning their first home win at Wembley Stadium, 1-0 over Bournemouth with a Christian Eriksen goal.

Sensation of the day came at Selhurst Park where Crystal Palace, hitherto without a goal and point to their name, downed champions Chelsea 2-1 with Wilfried Zaha, returning from injury, their hero thanks to a brilliant goal just before the break.

Palace’s new manager Roy Hodgson celebrated his first win in charge as the home side finally got in the scoresheet - a Cesar Azpilicueta own goal had given them an early lead before Tiemoue Bakayoko equalised - after 731 minutes without a league goal.

Yet the defeat left Chelsea nine points behind leaders City, whose current brand of kaleidoscopic football now makes them odds-on favourites to regain the title they last won in 2014.

Gabriel Jesus, with a brace, Raheem Sterling, David Silva, Fernandinho, Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva all found the target in the demolition of Stoke with the side now looking like a proper Guardiola creation.

Not for the first time this season Kevin de Bruyne was hailed the man of the match for his part in four of the goals.

City’s dazzle was a stark contrast to their neighbours’ safetyfirst approach in the underwhelming Anfield game during which the only United highlight was David de Gea’s great save to deny Joel Matip.

Swansea City scored a valuable 2-0 victory over Huddersfield Town, while Watford beat Arsenal 2-1 in the late match.