STERLING’S IN THE FAST LANE

IT wasn’t a good look for Marco Silva – but it certainly captured the Watford mood.

The Manchester heavens opened and Pep Guardiola’s Premier League leaders threatened to swamp the Hornets with yet another flood of goals.

But Silva stood on the Etihad touchline and stared into the teeth of the tempest.

At no point did Silva (above) duck for cover.

His only concession was that he swapped his smart overcoat for a waterproof kagoule at half-time.

His team, however, looked leaky all night.

After a fine start to the season, Watford are disappearing down a Premier League drain.

They have now lost 10 of 13 Premier League games.

Just 13 minutes in and Watford were reliving the nightmare of the 6-0 defeat City inflicted on them in September. Raheem Sterling helped himself to the quickest goal of the FROM BACK PAGE the scoring just after the hour with his 16th goal of the season.

The win stretches City’s unbeaten start to the season to 22 games and they are once again 15 points clear at the top.

Guardiola (above) had seen City’s record 18-match winning streak halted at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

But with playmaker David Silva back after being allowed leave to be with his pregnant girlfriend, the Blues looked unstoppable Premier League season when he scored after only 38 seconds.

Then Christian Kabasele’s desperate attempt to prevent Sergio Aguero from putting the finishing touch to Kevin De Bruyne’s cross only saw the Belgian defender slide the ball beyond Heurelho Gomes.

But after De Bruyne had rattled the bar with a free-kick, they could have been back in it just before the half-hour when Andre Gray broke clear to unleash a powerful low drive that forced City keeper Ederson into a fine save.

The visitors bravely tried to press Guardiola’s men.

City just passed and played and continued to create chances, however, until Aguero finally got on the scoresheet in the 63rd minute.

But at least there was some consolation when Gray hit back in the 82nd minute for the visitors. again. Andre Gray grabbed a consolation for Marco Silva’s struggling Hornets eight minutes from time.

But Watford are slipping towards a congested relegation zone after losing nine of their last 13 games.

City have now scored 14 goals in their last three Premier League games against Watford, conceding just one.

They could also have added to their tally – with both Kevin De Bruyne and Aguero hitting the woodwork.