Pep’s not ready to give up his crown after this devastating statement of intent...
Thatcher was in Downing Street. Craig Cash, the scriptwriter responsible for TV sit-com ‘Early Doors’ was in the Etihad posh seats – very 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 expertly denied by Ederson before Aguero scored City’s second goal from the penalty spot in the seventh minute after Mahrez had been upended by Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Eleven minutes later, City 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 freekick bounced off the chest of Tom Cleverley and left Foster stranded.
But City’s brilliance and Watford’s inability to do anything to counter it was a potent mix.
Bernardo Silva, all 5ft 6ins of him, stooped to head home af t e r O tame n d i had flicked on De Bruyne’s corner.
Then, David Silva’s vision and Aguero’s movement caught the visitors static again and Otamendi arrived unmarked to score.
A handful of Watford fans headed for the exits – either to go home, or grab a stiff drink. Flores told some of his substitutes to warm up. You can be sure not one of them wanted to get on.
Aguero broke clear only to chip wide after being sent clear by De Bruyne before then sweeping a cross from the Belgian against the post.
There was still more than an hour to go. Foster somehow kept out an Aguero header before David Silva leapt to send another effort inches wide.
The two Silvas combined for Bernardo to score No. 6 three minutes after the break.
And the Portuguese claimed the first hat-trick of his career just before the hour when he swept home another De Bruyne cross at t the second attempt.
Guardiola sent on Angelino, o, Joao Cancelo and teenager Eric c Garcia – but still refused to call off ff the dogs.
Mahrez sent a header against t the crossbar before De Bruyne got t the goal that his performance e deserved when he beat Foster r from 20 yards with a violent swing g of his right boot.
The midfielder should have e then put City on Cloud Nine when n he smuggled himself clear of two o challenges, only to shoot wide e with only Foster to beat.
With four assists and a goal, it t was the only foot he put wrong all ll afternoon.