Aguero matches Shearer tally as hot streak goes on
Sergio Aguero continued to make his mark on the Premier League record books, as have Manchester City so often in the Pep Guardiola era, a timely reminder of the 30-year-old Argentinian’s importance to his club’s hopes of success.
Guardiola needed no prompting to take Aguero off straight after he had doubled City’s lead in this perfunctory victory, keen to rest the forward’s injured heel ahead of tomorrow’s visit to Hoffenheim and Sunday’s eagerly-awaited trip to Liverpool. Aguero’s fifth Premier League goal of the season was also his 148th for City, placing him third with Alan Shearer on the list of goals for one club, with the 183 scored by Wayne Rooney for Manchester United and Thierry Henry’s 175 for Arsenal both marks that are within his reach at his current scoring rate.
“Everyone hopes he stays,” said 183 175 148 148 team-mate Bernardo Silva. “If he reaches that level it will be even better because everyone knows how important Alan Shearer was. I think he can reach it. He’s got the potential. Every season he keeps scoring more and more. We hope he can help us win more titles.
“When you look at his career, he has been doing this for more than 10 years. You have to admire players like him that score 30 goals and next season they don’t rest, they want to score 30 or 40 again.”
Aguero has averaged fractionally over 20 league goals a season in his seven full seasons with City to date. His effort against Brighton moved him into the top 10 of the Premier League’s all-time scorers and, if Shearer’s career record of 260 looks well beyond the reach of Aguero, Rooney’s second-place mark of 208 could yet be within his aim.
Left-back offers the City manager a bigger headache this week, with Fabian Delph ruled out through injury and Benjamin Mendy, reprimanded by the manager last week for arriving late for treatment on a foot injury, a doubt. “Everyone wants him back,” said Bernardo of Mendy. “He’s a great guy and a fantastic player. Sometimes he does little crazy things, but we hope he can come back as early as possible.”
Even before Aguero scored, Raheem Sterling’s opening goal was always likely to condemn Brighton to a 17th straight away league game without a win. “I look at last season, where we got enough points at home so there’s the balance,” said the Brighton manager, Chris Hughton. Northampton Town manager Dean Austin seemed to know his regime was doomed during the 4-0 defeat away to Mansfield Town. The 48-yearold, who was sacked yesterday, could not help the club avoid relegation from League One last season and won only once in 12 matches in all competitions this campaign.