City slickers continue goal rampage
Although it’s taken a year longer than many expected, Manchester City is finally beginning to resemble a Pep Guardiola-coached team.
City remained in rampant form as it ended Watford’s unbeaten start to the English Premier League with a resounding 6-0 victory at Vicarage Road yesterday.
Guardiola’s side has scored 15 goals in three matches since the international break, following 5-0 and 4-0 wins over Liverpool and Feyernood respectively.
City stuttered to a third-place finish in Guardiola’s debut season while failing to produce the stylish play of its manager’s former sides, but a second straight offseason of significant personnel changes appears to be paying dividends.
‘‘It was so good, especially after an away game in the Champions League,’' Guardiola said.
‘‘I was lucky to manage Barcelona with many outstanding performances but this week has been a lot of goals. We have found our game, we can make short passes, and we have a lot of energy from our fullbacks.’'
Sergio Aguero scored a predatory hat-trick and laid on an assist for Gabriel Jesus, while Nicolas Otamendi headed in, and Raheem Sterling added a late penalty.
Elsewhere, Liverpool failed to shake off the effects of last week’s thrashing by City, letting Burnley leave Anfield with a 1-1 draw. Crystal Palace became the first club in league history to lose its opening five games without scoring.
Swansea brought Tottenham back to earth in a scoreless draw at Wembley, three days after Spurs tore apart Borussia Dortmund. Newcastle made it three league wins a row by beating Stoke 3-1, Leicester and Huddersfield drew 1-1, and West Brom and West Ham played out a goalless draw.
Philippe Coutinho made his first start of the season for Liverpool after failing to force a summer move to Barcelona, but his return wasn’t enough to fill the void left by the suspended Sadio Mane.
Liverpool struggled at times last season without Mane and it appears little has changed.
Burnley has picked up away points at three of last season’s topsix teams, beating Chelsea on opening day and drawing against Tottenham at Wembley.
Roy Hodgson’s first match in charge of Crystal Palace looked like the team’s previous four matches. In a 1-0 loss to Southampton, Steven Davis’ early goal proved decisive.
Tottenham is still looking for a first domestic victory of the season at its temporary Wembley Stadium home. Harry Kane struck the crossbar in the second half but Swansea displayed great resilience to hold on for 0-0.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs have failed to win all three league games at Wembley, where they are playing while White Hart Lane is redeveloped this season.
Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles was an unlikely star for a second straight game as the defender headed home the winner against Stoke after Xherdan Shaqiri cancelled out Christian Atsu’s opener. Newcastle beat Stoke 3-1 at St. James’ Park.
Also, West Brom midfielder Gareth Barry equalled Ryan Giggs’ Premier League appearance record in his 632nd game.