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Scorers:
Manchester City: Agüero (25' minutes, 35' minutes, 75' minutes), Gabriel Jesus (31' minutes), Silva (48' minutes), Kongolo (84' minutes OG) :
Huddersfield: Stankovic (43' minutes)
As far as games go, there will be much tougher challenges in the season ahead. Guardiola though will be sneaking a smile having navigated Wagner’s charges with aplomb. Sergio Aguero had a ball of a time and racked up his 9th Premier League hat-trick.
While the news of De Bruyne’s injury has been greeted with some regret at the Etihad, it is a relief that the extent of the injury will only keep the Belgian away for the next three months. Here though there was rarely any show of mercy by the Citizens as they hammered Huddersfield down.
The game as the stats proved was dominated entirely by City as they racked up an astounding 32 Shots with 14 on target. Huddersfield though managed to spoil a perfect afternoon for City as they prevented Ederson from getting a clean-sheet. Having scored 8 goals in two games City have laid down the marker when it comes to attacking intent.
#1 Aguero steals the show
One can never get tired of how skilfully the Argentinean takes his goals. His variety of finishes has lit up the Premier League ever since his arrival from Spain. Here his first goal was a joy to behold, the calmness to receive the pass, control and use his body to shield the ball before choosing the perfect lob right into the net. To make it more sublime he used his not so favoured left-foot.
The simplicity of the goal also made Ederson the first keeper to assist a Premier League goal. While Huddersfield will rue the space they afforded Aguero, it was the composure and the calmness of the finish which made it memorable. Thereafter, Aguero followed that up with a poachers goal after pouncing on a mistake by Huddersfield keeper, Hamer.
The Argentinean did get his hat-trick in the 75th thus equalling former English & Newcastle and Blackburn Rovers forward, Alan Shearer’s record of trebles for one Premier League club. Shearer though, achieved this record with Blackburn Rovers. Aguero now has scored 14 goals in his past eight league appearances for Manchester City at the Etihad and it seems ominous for Premier League newcomers, Wolverhampton Wanderers whom they face next.
#2 Wagner needs to remedy the situation
No one said it would be easy for Huddersfield Town. The second season in the Premier League was always going to be tough. But having conceded nine goals in their first two matches this season, they are now the second side in Premier League history behind Wigan Athletic in 2010-11 who conceded 10 goals in their opening two games.
Their home campaign will be an important factor if they are to survive this season. And their next game at home against Cardiff City will offer them that opportunity. Wagner will have to devise a method by which they can come up with a win. While they were never expected to beat City, Wagner’s men will wince at the way they were torn apart by City.
In his post-match conference, Wagner accepted City’s superiority and instead urged his side to focus on the upcoming games. A theme it seems is necessary to get City out of the system. Scoring goals have been an Achilles heel since the latter stages of last season and with a goal difference already in the negative, Wagner will have to address both ends of the pitch ahead of their next game.
#3 Mendy – left-back or auxiliary striker
The French international it seems is making up for lost time. Last season, Mendy was injured in the early stages of the season which more or less ended his season. But his positive influence in the dressing room and the upbeat nature of his personality contributed to City’s title drive as well. His presence in the French squad can only be attributed to that.
Having returned a world champion though, the Frenchman is keen to prove that game is as good as his social media skills. Time and again in this game, Mendy galloped down to join the attacks and at times in the first half played almost like a third striker. Be it taking the ball from deep, or playing a quick one-two on the wings to burst into the box, the Frenchman was superb.
The Frenchman set up three goals for his team-mates and more than that was always an available outlet for the City to switch angles of attack. His skidding cross that Hamer spilt led to Aguero’s third capping off a fine afternoon for the Frenchman.
#4. Mooy’s absence was sorely felt
Survival talks after two games are often considered gibberish, but such is the competitiveness of the Premier League, that one shouldn’t be too surprised. After all last season’s bottom, three were pretty well established Premier League sides - West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City, and Swansea City. Most of them were considered model clubs and touted as the next big thing at some stage of their Premier League stay.
Wagner has earned himself a reputation but that reputation has been enhanced by the smart acquisition of a certain Australian as well.
Aaron Mooy, was instrumental to Huddersfield’s survival campaign last season. Mooy directly had a hand in 7 goals and more than that was instrumental in controlling the midfield.
Stankovic did his reputation no harm as he gave the visitors the slightest glimmer of hope before half-time when he poked in from Steve Mounie's flick-on but that was as good as it got for the Huddersfield mid-field, as he along with his team-mates were overrun in the middle of the park. Wagner can’t welcome back the Australian soon enough as he will cherish a player who can make a pass under pressure.
#5. Pep’s finely tuned machine a joy to watch
The Spaniard for a change afforded himself a smile when Silva bent in his free-kick at the start of the second half. Pep is a ball of adrenaline on the touchline as he animatedly conveys his instructions to his player.
Over here though, he had the mastery of David Silva to rely on. The fellow Spaniard has had his own share of personal problems and recently Silva publicly lauded the actions of City and Guardiola who have understood his situation and supported him accordingly.
And here it seems the Spaniard was in a mood to enjoy himself. From as early as the third minute, the Spaniard seemed to be in an adventurous mood, bursting into the box and making himself a menace on and off the ball. Pep had altered his tactics by going with two strikers and both the strikers were in a lethal mood.
The movement between Jesus and Aguero to pull off each other and create spaces for others to run into was a laudable moment for this team which continues to reinvent themselves every game. Pep as the architect is behind it but it only bears fruit if all the players click together.
Manchester City has now scored 104 goals in 39 games at home under Pep Guardiola in the Premier League and it is an ominous sign for the rest of the league that their attackers still aren’t on target as the season looms ahead.
