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Manchester City 8 (EIGHT), Watford 0 – Player Ratings

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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

Manchester United 1, FC Astana 0 – Player Ratings

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MANCHESTER UNITED 1, FC ASTANA 0

Mason Greenwood scored his first Manchester United goal to help the Reds to a 1-0 win over FC Astana of Kazakhstan in their Europa League group game played on September 19, 2019.

Fred hit the crossbar and Jesse Lingard had a shot palmed against the post by Astana goalkeeper Nenad Eric while Marcos Rojo’s crosses and shots went unconverted as United struggled to prise open down the visitors.

The highly experienced FC Astana side were able to hold off the inexperienced United side for so long at Old Trafford so it was a relief when the Reds finally broke the deadlock with 17 minutes to go.

And the Bradford-born 17-year-old will take the plaudits for taking the shot from a difficult angle.

Man Utd’s singing section raise the roof at Od Trafford before and during the Europa League game against FC Astana of Kazakhstan on September 19, 2019

PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 1, FC Astana 0

Sergio Romero: 6. Little to do.

Diogo Dalot: 6. First game back after lengthy injury., crossing poor but good skill to beat a man in the Astana area in the first half. 

Phil Jones: 7. The experienced head in defence.

Axel Tuanzebe: 7. One ball came at him too quickly in the Astana box. Not much to worry about defensively and made a great injury time clearance.

Marcos Rojo: 7. Spent a lot of time attacking the left flank and his raking crosses proved extremely dangerous – including one which should have been put away –  and tested Nanad Eric with a free kick. Tried an outrageous rabona which, like most of what United tried on the night, failed to come off.

Fred: 7. Re-energised, hit the crossbar within third minute of the game with a 30 yard strike but then blotted his copybook with a poor pass that was almost converted by Roman Murtazeyev on a solo break

Nemanja Matic: 7. Under little pressure.

Angel Gomes: 6. Decent set piece in the first half deserved better finishing. Faded away and was replaced by Juan Mata.

Tahith Chong: 6. A little isolated when he got the ball, didn’t gamble when Rojo’s inviting second half cross rolled across the 6 yard box, and was robbed.

Mason Greenwood: 7. A little hasty when he got his chances, too slow to react to Marcos Rojos second half cross but kept his composure for his late goal.

Marcus Rashford: 6. Had a few great chances to score but was feeding on scraps.

Jesse Lingard (for Tahith Chong, 68): 6. Had a shot pushed onto the post by Nenad Eric.

Juan Mata (for Angel Gomes, 68): 6. More creativity that United craved.

Ashley Young (For Marcos Rojo, 78): No time to mark.

GOAL – Manchester United 1, FC Astana 0

Man Utd 1, FC Astana 0: 73. Mason Greenwood decided to shoot from wide on the right, 6 yards out and threaded the ball through goalkeeper Nanad Eric’s legs to open his United account.

MATCH STATS – Manchester United 1, FC Astana 0

Man Utd: Romero, Dalot, Jones, Tuanzebe, Rojo, Fred, Matic, Gomes (Mata 68), Chong (Lingard 68), Greenwood, Rashford 

Man Utd Subs not used: Grant, Maguire, Young, Garner, McTominay

Booked: Fred 85 (foul on Ivan Maevski)

Goal: Greenwood 73

FC Astana: Eric, Rukavina, Postnikov, Tomasevic, Shomko, Maevski, Simonovic (Janga 46), Sigurjonsson, Rotariu (Mubele 82), Murtazeyev (Logvinenko 46)

FC Astana Subs not used: Mokin, Muzikov, Beysebekov, Pertsukh

Referee: Francois Letexier

Attendance: 50,783

Manchester City cruise past Shakhtar Donetsk as they put Norwich defeat behind them

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Shakhtar Donetsk 0, Manchester City 3

Goals by Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan, and Gabriel Jesus sealed a deserved win for dominant Manchester City at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

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City also hit the woodwork twice and had a goal ruled out for offside as they cruised past Shakhtar to put their defeat at Norwich City at the weekend behind them.

Despite their utter dominance and plethora of shots on goal, only five out of 18 were on target but they were enough to sink their first Champions League opponents of the season.

As expected with John Stones and Aymeric Laporte injured, Fernandinho started at centre half as Nicolas Otamendi’s partner, with 18-year-old academy youngster Eric Garcia on the bench.

City boss Pep Guardiola made four changes in all, with Stones out, and Bernardo Silva, David Silva and  Sergio Aguero dropped to the bench with Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, and Gabriel Jesus starting the game.

Joining Stones in the treatment room was Phil Foden who was confirmed to have a stomach virus.

It was a game of few clear cut chances early on but City took control in the second quarter and took the lead with the first shot on target.

Riyad Mahrez tapped in the rebound after Gabriel Jesus unselfishly passed to Ilkay Gundogan whose shot came back off the post in the 24th minute.

Mahrez returned the favour, surging into the penalty area and setting up Gundogan in the 38th minute, the German made no mistake.

De Bruyne and Sterling went close as City looked to put the game beyond their hosts.

Shakhtar threatened only occasionally and had only one real chance of note.

Ederson saved impressively from Junior Moraes after Taison cut inside, nutmegged Rodri, and slid the ball into the Shakhtar frontman after Mahrez had scored.

And Moraes was off target after the break when he tried to chip Ederson but Fernandinho was on the line in any case.

It was all about City, though, and Guardiola’s side were utterly comfortable.

Sterling hit the woodwork from a narrow angle following a poor clearance by Krvstsov after Andriy Pyatov had saved from Gundogan.

Piyatov kept his side in the game by diving at the feet of Gundogan to win the ball while he breathed a sigh of relief after Nicolas Otamendi’s spectacular overhead kick goal was ruled out for an early offside by Sterling.

 Gabriel Jesus finally finished off Shakhtar after a 3v1 counter attack 14 minutes from time. De Bruyne’s pass slid in the Brazilian who flicked he ball past Piyatov for his second goal of the season.

With the game safe, De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, and Rodri were replaced by Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo and Benjamin Mendy as City saw out the last few minutes to become the only English side to win their first Champions League game this season.

MATCH STATS – Shakhtar Donetsk 0, Manchester City 3

Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov, Bolbat, Krivtsov, Matvyenko, Ismaily, Alan Patrick (Marcos Antonio 74), Stepanenko, Marlos, Taison, Solomon (Konoplyanka 46), Junior Moraes (Dentinho 77)

Shakhtar Donetsk subs not used: Shevchenko, Butko, Kovalenko, Bondar

Man City: Ederson, Walker (Cancelo 81), Otamendi, Fernandinho, Zinchenko, Rodri (Mendy 83), Gundogan, De Bruyne (Bernardo Silva 77), Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus

Man City Subs not used: Bravo, Aguero, David Silva, Eric Garcia

Booked: Rodri 29 (foul on Ismaily)

Goals: Mahrez 24, Gundogan 28, Jesus 76

Victor Lindelof signs new contract to stay at Manchester United

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Victor Lindelof has become the latest Manchester United player to sign a long term contract with the club – extending his stay at Old Trafford until 2024.

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The experienced Swedish defender, who has been capped by his country 31 times, will stay at the club until June 2024 with an option to extend for a further year.

Lindelof, 25, joined the Reds in 2017 an has made 74 appearances for the club so far.

Along with David De Gea, it means United’s first choice defensive unit this season – Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, Lindelof, and Luke Shaw, are all on long contracts.

Speaking about his contract, Lindelof said: “Since the day I arrived at United it has felt like home.

“I have grown significantly both as a player and as a person in the last two years and for that I am grateful to everyone at the club for their help and support.

”I love playing football and my aim now is to help the team to win trophies and repay the fans for their unrivalled support.

“I know that everyone at the club shares this vision and will give everything to get Manchester United back to where it belongs.

“I’m still young and know I can improve further but with the help of the boss and his coaching staff, I believe that only good things are ahead for this great club.”

His boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, added:

“Victor has established himself here and has become a very important part of our team.

“He brings calmness on the pitch and I can see that he is determined to help this club and to be successful here.

“I’m extremely happy that he has committed his future to Manchester United.

“We’re all looking forward to working together to deliver the success and get United back to where we know the club belongs.”  

John Stones injury blow leaves Nicolas Otamendi as Manchester City’s sole fit senior central defender

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Nicolas Otamendi is now Manchester City’s only fit senior central defender after Pep Guardiola revealed that John Stones has is out for up to six weeks.

Guardiola said: “John Stones was injured this morning. He will be out for 4, 5, 6 weeks. The problem is muscular.

“It’s a big challenge for me as a manager, with just one central defender, Nico [Otamendi].”

Injury to Aymeric Laporte and a humbling 3-2 defeat at Norwich City have been followed by a muscular injury to Stones.

There had already been talk of how City might reshuffle to cover for Vincent Kompany once it became clear that main central defence target Harry Maguire was not going to join.

This came to the forefront once Laporte, who will be missing with a serious knee injury until the new year, was joined on the sidelines by Stones who might not be available until late October.

But Guardiola refused to be downbeat about the injury blow and was will now look to bring forward contingency plans to face another big injury challenge.

“Fernandinho, and maybe Eric Garcia and Taylor Harwood-Bellis will come forward for the next few months.

“What we will not do is complain. We will have 11 players on the pitch.”

Kyle Walker to be an emergency centre back for Manchester City?

What are Pep Guardiola’s options in central defence with Aymeric Laporte and John Stones injured?

Defeats for Liverpool and Chelsea in the Champions League won’t have affected Guardiola’s plan to get Champions League points on the board, especially after the Norwich reverse at the weekend.

He will target three points and a convincing win to get the club back to winning ways as well as off to a good start in this term’s Champions League.

Fernandinho has been training as a central defender since he returned to the squad in pre-season and will probably become the short term simplest solution for City.

It’s likely that one or both of Eric Garcia (18), and Taylor Harwood-Bellis (17), will become regulars on City’s bench.

And with Joao Cancelo raring to go at right back, Kyle Walker could still be an option as a centre half.

With inexperienced central defensive options at play, City could switch to a back three which could further suit Benjamin Mendy and Cancelo as attacking wing-backs and offer further defensive insurance.

A tactical switch would then see Walker joining Fernandinho and Otamendi as a three man back line which could also offer chances to Garcia and Harwood-Bellis.