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Wow. Just unthinkable. Manchester City have been famous across the footballing landscape for their unforgiving nature and perversity, but they escalated the same notion to the next dimension by taking a hapless Watford to the cleaners.
A hat-trick from Bernardo Silva, accompanied by goals from David Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Sergio Aguero, Nicolas Otamendi and Kevin de Bruyne completed a jaw-dropping rout of a disintegrated Hornets side.
After succumbing to a shock defeat at Carrow Road, Manchester City had to respond to keep pace with league leaders Liverpool. Perhaps, they took the motive too seriously. As for Watford, they now have lost 12 consecutive games against the champions.
After all the stories, headlines and records created by the Cityzens, Pep Guardiola added another to his elite list of accomplishments at the Etihad, recording his biggest-ever victory in terms of margin in English football.
The score, in fact, could have even reached double figures for the hosts. Aguero could have had a hat-trick himself, as he was always buzzing around, wriggling through defenders, getting his shots away and making stellar runs into the six-yard box.
One of his efforts clattered the frame of the goal, while Riyad Mahrez too was denied a second of the afternoon.
On that note, we aim to list down three of many reasons that led to this irresistible, relentless performance from Manchester City.
#3 Correcting their mistakes at the back
Manchester City committed schoolboy errors in the previous PL game against Norwich, with the centre backs often seen viewing the game at a pedestrian pace.
This time around though, Guardiola took no time to muscle Fernandinho into the setup. Rodri kept his place, with the Brazilian occupying the heart of defence alongside Nicolas Otamendi.
Fernandinho brought about a sense of calm around the last line. He was apt at everything he did - be it with mopping up danger or sensing it. He won a host of interceptions, read the final ball and chipped in with vital tackles when his side were shorn of a few bodies at the back.
He often seems to give his 100%, and once again today, the ever-so-reliable Fernandinho, along with Kyle Walker, the returning Benjamin Mendy and Otamendi, put in a good shift.
#2 Defending with the ball
City were 5-0 inside the opening 18 minutes of the game - the earliest any team has scored as many in the competition.
Pep could easily have brought on a couple of players at half time, City could have effortless clocked passes and ran minutes down, or just hang around with a slower tempo to relax a few muscles.
But, this is why they are champions. And this is why they have scored 201 goals in the last two seasons in the Premier League. They simply did not take their foot off the gas.
City maintained their attacking dimension, with Kevin De Bruyne, both the Silvas and Riyad Mahrez all staying high up the pitch and covering the entire middle third of the pitch. The work rate was up there, along with the setup to prepare for a potential Watford counter.
It's not bravery, it's just the appetite to go out there, play to your strengths and stick to your DNA.
The way Otamendi and Fernandinho helped spray passes further up the pitch and produce last-ditch tackles enunciated the fact. Through this typical Pep Guardiola-like display, the likes of Aguero and Mahrez also managed to attack from the final 20 meters of the pitch.
#1 Responding early on in the game
Manchester City, as aforementioned, stuck to their strengths. They played at pace in advanced positions, relied on the running in behind and did what the do best under pressure - play direct football with complete purpose.
As a result, they were up within the first 55 seconds. Kevin De Bruyne, all of a sudden was up in a good position down the right, and he laid it on a platter for club captain David Silva to open the scoring.
Heading into this game, they had to resume normal service against Quique Sanchez Flores, who drills his side into defending deep and compact. They deployed De Bruyne and released him masterfully down the right - a position where the best of his passes come from.
Further, David Silva returned to his favoured number 10-like role, with Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez switching flanks. By doing so, Guardiola let his players do the talking from their best positions and formations.
They were certainly helped by poor defending on the far post and the penalty conceded by Ben Foster, but City made no mistake in making mincemeat out of a Watford defence that was in absolute bedlam.
