PREMIER LEAGUE
SERGIO AGUERO struck twice on his return from suspension as Premier League leaders Manchester City made it a perfect six wins from six under manager Pep Guardiola.
Aguero and David Silva returned for City among 10 changes from the side that claimed a 2-1 EFL Cup win against Swansea on Wednesday, with only defender John Stones remaining in the starting line-up from that game.
Swansea, meanwhile, showed four changes, including starts for Fernando Llorente and Gylfi Sigurdsson. But Neil Taylor and Ki Sung-yeung, who both displayed public disapproval of Francesco Guidolin’s decisions to substitute them against Chelsea and Southampton respectively, were on bench duty.
With speculation intensifying daily about Guidolin’s future, Swansea needed a bright start, and they had the ball in the net via Sigurdsson after just five minutes – but referee Neil Swarbrick had already whistled for a foul by Jack Cork.
But Swansea’s promise sparked a decisive response as Aguero left Jordi Amat floundering inside the penalty area with a brilliant first touch from Bacary Sagna’s pass, and then finished majestically for his 10th goal of the season.
Swansea, though, responded magnificently as they equalised just four minutes later when Sigurdsson found Llorente, and the Spanish striker left Claudio Bravo clutching fresh air as his rasping half-volley flew high into City’s net.
And it took the visitors a while to regain their rhythm, with Swansea refusing to take a backward step, and Sagna was booked for a foul before Kevin De Bruyne rifled a shot just wide following a flick by Raheem Sterling.
City regained territorial control as half-time approached, but Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was not unduly troubled as an entertaining opening 45 minutes ended 1-1.
Swansea began the second period in continued impressive form, but City struck in controversial fashion midway through the half when Mike van der Hoorn was adjudged by referee Neil Swarbrick to have challenged De Bruyne unfairly, and Aguero made no mistake from the spot.
Then, with Swansea attacking, Leon Britton lost possession and Sterling – whose end product has been the subject of criticism in the past – stormed up the field and applied an effortless finish.