Manchester City 8, Watford 0 – Player Ratings
Bernardo Silva hit a hat trick as eight goal Manchester City put Watford to the sword at the Etihad a week after their disappointing defeat at Norwich City.
They scored five times in 18 torrid minutes – the fastest any team has scored five goals in Premier League history – during which Sergio Aguero scored his 100th goal at the Etihad.
David Silva, Aguero, Riyad Mahrez, and Nicolas Otamendi scored before the popular Portuguese player hit his first hat trick for City and Kevin De Bruyne made it 8-0 with 5 minutes to go.
De Bruyne missed a chance to equal Manchester United’s record 9-0 drubbing of Ipswich Town in 1994 when he lashed a sitter wide at the end.
City had already hit the woodwork three times, missed several sitters and given slack Watford a complete nightmare.
Angelino and Joao Cancelo made their Etihad bows, and Eric Garcia came on for his Premier League debut.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 8 (EIGHT), Watford 0
Ederson: 7. Crucial save early on to deny Watford an equaliser
Kyle Walker: 7. Shuttled up and down the right flank.
Fernandinho: 8. Felt at home to Nicolas Otamendi’s left. Great timing to rob Gerard Deulofeu and set up a counter attack from which Sergio Aguero nearly scored.
Nicolas Otamendi: 7. Left for dead by Gerard Deulofeu who could have equalised early on for Watford. Had a few other shaky moments. Scored at the other end though before coming off for a rest as City racked up the goals.
Benjamin Mendy: 6. Low key return to the team after a long lay off. Taken off at half time after an easy run out.
Kevin De Bruyne: 9. In imperious form. Got an assist for David Silva’s opener and Bernardo’s hat trick and created so many chances before finishing one laid on by Riyad Mahrez into the roof of the net before narrowly missing the goal that would have equalled Manchester United’s record win.
Rodri: 8. Kept the engine room going, reassuring presence in midfield. Even had a shot in the second half.
David Silva. 8. Magical performance from Silva, fully deserved his early goal and could have set up more.
Riyad Mahrez: 8. In form and finding plenty of space to exploit. His free kick deflected in off Tom Cleverley. Second half cut back should have been converted by Sergio Aguero but laid on the ball for De Bruyne’s second goal and almost found Aguero.
Bernardo Silva: 9. Couldn’t be contained by the confused Watford defence. Fully deserved hat trick.
Sergio Aguero: 8. Scored from the penalty spot and could have had a couple more – hitting the woodwork twice, working Ben Foster hard and missing a few sitters. Unselfish, hard working, and dropped deep to help the build-up.
Angelino (on for Benjamin Mendy, 46): 6. Put some good crosses in.
Joao Cancelo (on for Kyle Walker, 54): 6. On for his home debut.
Eric Garcia (on for Nicolas Otamendi, 63): 6. Premier League bow for the City youngster.
GOALS – Manchester City 8 (EIGHT), Watford 0
Man City 1, Watford 0: 1. David Silva tapped in the opening goal from 3 yards out after 52 seconds following a sumptuous right wing cross by Kevin De Bruyne
Man City 2, Watford 0: 7. Sergio Aguero stepped up and stroked a penalty home after Ben Foster brought down Riyad Mahrez in the penalty area after Kevin De Bruyne has threaded him through. It was Aguero’s 100th goal at the Etihad.
Man City 3, Watford 0: 12. Riyad Mahrez’s low free kick was deflected past Foster by Tom Cleverly after he was brought down on the edge of the area by Abdoulaye Doucoure on the edge of the area
Man City 4, Watford 0: 15. Bernardo Silva headed in Sergio Aguero’s flick on from Kevin De Bruyne’s corner.
Man City 5, Watford 0: 18. Sergio Aguero’s cross into the 6 yard box was slid in by Nicolas Otamendi from 3 yards out after David Silva’s free kick released the Argentine striker
Man City 6, Watford 0: 49. Bernardo Silva stepped inside Craig Dawson and scored from 6 yards after David Silva passed the ball to him – City had kept going after Sergio Aguero had fluffed a header from Bernardo Silva’s cross and Watford failed to clear the ball.
Man City 7, Watford 0: 60. Bernardo Silva stabbed home from 3 yards after another sumptuous cross from Kevin De Bruyne.
Man City 8, Watford 0: 85. Kevin De Bruyne fired into the roof of the net for 8, after Riyad Mahrez switched play to the left flank where the Belgian was.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 8 (EIGHT), Watford 0
Man City: Ederson, Walker (Cancelo 54), Fernandinho, Otamendi (Eric Garcia 63), Mendy (Angelino 46), De Bruyne, Rodri, David Silva, Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, Aguero
Man City Subs not used: Bravo, Sterling, Gundogan, Jesus
Bookings: Bernardo Silva 18, Angelino
Goals: David Silva 1; Aguero 7 pen; Mahrez 12; Bernardo Silva 15, 48, 60; Otamendi 18; De Bruyne 85
Watford: Foster, Femenia, Dawson, Mariappa, Holebas, Capoue, Folquier (Pereyra 33), Cleverley, Doucoure, Hughes (Sarr 59), Deulofeu (Gray 77)
Watford Subs not used: Gomes, Janmaat, Chalobah, Kabasele
Bookings: Femenia 58 (foul on Bernardo Silva), Deulofeu
Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: 54,273