UNSTOPPABLE!
It’s 15 in a row as Pep puts on show RIATH ALSAMARRAI
NO spilt milk on the floor, just the carcass of a Swan that took an almighty bludgeoning by a team in no mood to wait around in this Premier League race.
Manchester City can play their music as loud as they want if they keep this absurd run of form going. This was City’s 15th straight win, making a top-flight record, and who will end it? Who could possibly get in the way of such an unstoppable force?
It is premature to add this vintage to the discussion of the division’s all-time finest because the job is not yet done. But it will be soon enough at this rate and when it is, they will have to be prominent in the reckoning.
This was by no means their best performance. But even that is telling, given the width of this scoreline and the fact City might have had seven had they bothered to really try.
Instead, they just coasted with a half-strength team and still battered Swansea for four, with David Silva delivering two exquisite finishes either side of a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick.
Sergio Aguero added the fourth five minutes from time.
The opener, on 27 minutes, was as much down to Swansea’s bungling as Silva’s ingenuity.
In the first instance, it was Roque Mesa who made a hash of a short pass, putting it out of the reach of Tom Carroll on the edge of his area, and from there Bernardo Silva took possession, checked back onto his left foot and dropped a cross over Mike van der Hoorn’s head.
David Silva contorted his body in flight and flicked out a boot to nudge past Lukasz Fabiasnki. Seven minutes later and it was effectively game over, this time thanks to De Bruyne’s free-kick from the left-hand angle of the box.
The strike was low, took a bounce around the six-yard line and made it all the way through. A cross in likelihood, but good enough for a goal against this defence.
The third goal was probably the best of the bunch. David Silva was key in the early part with a pass to Sterling, who then played him back in.
Silva had the calmness of mind to wait for Fabianski to go to ground before scooping over him. Delightful. When Swansea did have a chance, with Mesa’s shot striking Fabian Delph and changing direction, Ederson pulled off a brilliant reflex save.
From there, more suffering, with Aguero taking possession from Yaya Toure and running away from two challenges before finishing across Fabianski.
Swansea manager Paul Clement admitted afterwards: ‘At times it was horrible to be on the sideline watching that, seeing my side trying but suffering for long periods.’
‘It was hard to watch at times because they were so dominant. For me, one of the best sides I’ve ever come across. So many good athletes, so many intelligent footballers and it’s really hard to pin them down.’
Delighted City boss Pep Guardiola said: ‘Considering we have a lot of games in our legs, a demanding game at Old Trafford three days ago, we were solid, we were serious and we made a good performance.’