City get ’em in Early Doors as Hornets slump
THERE must be something about Watford that Pep Guardiola just does not like.
Perhaps he studied the coaching methods of Graham Taylor. Maybe he can’t stand Elton John’s music.
But there is no doubt the Hertfordshire club brings a ruthless streak out of the Manchester City boss.
In eight games against the Hornets since arriving in England in 2016, Guardiola’s team have scored an incredible
35 goals.
That is as many as Brighton managed in the whole of last season.
After joking that Liverpool were already champions in-waiting after last week’s chastening defeat at Norwich, the Blues’ boss saw his back-toback title winners deliver a devastating statement of intent.
Bernardo Silva netted the first hat-trick of his career. David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Riyad Mahrez, Nicolas Otamendi and Kevin De Bruyne were also on target.
Poor Watford. Four months ago they suffered the biggest FA Cup Final defeat in 116 years when they were humiliated 6-0.
After just 18 minutes at The Etihad they were
5-0 down – and the prospect of City beating Manchester United’s Premier League record
9-0 win over Ipswich was bone-chillingly real for Quique Sanchez Flores.
The Watford boss might have thought Guardiola was doing him a favour by leaving in-form Raheem Sterling on the bench.
But the Hornets haven’t beaten City in any competition since Jason Donovan was top of the charts and Maggie Thatcher was in Downing Street. Craig Cash, the scriptwriter responsible for TV sitcom Early Doors, was in The Etihad posh seats – which was fitting because it took City just 53 seconds to score.
De Bruyne’s cross and David Silva’s finish didn’t just open the floodgates – the goal prompted a tsunami.
Amazingly Gerard Deulofeu was denied by Ederson before Aguero scored City’s second goal from the penalty spot in the seventh minute.
Eleven minutes later the home side had scored another three.
No team has hit five goals in a faster time in the history of the Premier League.
Mahrez got lucky when his free-kick bounced off Tom Cleverley and left Ben Foster stranded.
Bernardo Silva stooped to head home after Otamendi had flicked on a corner.
David Silva and Aguero caught the visitors static once more and Otamendi arrived to score.
There was still more than an hour to go.
The two Silva’s combined for Bernardo to score No.6 three minutes after the break.
And the Portuguese claimed the first hat-trick of his career when he swept home another De Bruyne cross.
Guardiola sent on Angelino, Joao Cancelo and teenager Eric Garcia but still refused to call off the dogs.
Mahrez headed against the bar before De Bruyne got the goal his performance deserved when he beat Foster from 20 yards.
The midfielder should have made it 9-0, only to shoot wide.
With four assists and a goal it was the only foot he put wrong all afternoon.