Manchester City hit six against Watford to go top

Manchester City went top of the Premier League with a 6-0 demolition of Watford at Vicarage Road.

Watford could themselves have gone top had they won, but three goals in under ten first-half minutes gave City an unassailable lead.

Sergio Aguero hit a hat-trick to move to 299 career goals, and also set up Gabriel Jesus before half time as their partnership continued to flourish.

In the second half, City faced an early blast of pressure from Watford, but they added to their lead with a Nicolas Otamendi header from a David Silva cross. Aguero finally grabbed his third with a shot that just made its way over the line. Raheem Sterling marked his return from suspension with a late penalty after he had been fouled - gaining permission from Pep Guardiola to take it ahead of Aguero.

City were so comfortable they were able to introduce Ilkay Gundogan as he recovers from another significant injury, while safe in the knowledge they would be top of the table at least until Sunday evening.

Aguero and Jesus could force Guardiola to rethink his tactics: Guardiola has made it clear that Aguero will not feature in every game, and the striker has been rumoured to be close to the exit under Guardiola. However, Aguero's improving approach play, and Jesus's understanding with the Argentine around the goal could force Guardiola to keep both of them up front whenever possible.

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City): Pep Guardiola has taken De Bruyne's game to another level. Although he has been used deeper this year, he is able to be just as creative, while allowing City to field Aguero, Jesus, Sterling and others ahead of him to pull apart teams with his clever passing. He will come into his own as City start to face tougher teams in the league and Europe.

Watford: Gomes 5, Janmaat 5, Mariappa 5, Kabasele 5, Holebas 5, Chalobah 6, Doucoure 6, Carrillo 6, Cleverley 5, Richarlison 6, Gray 5. Subs: Pereyra 6, Capoue 6, Deeney 6.

Manchester City: Ederson 6, Walker 7, Stones 6, Otamendi 7, Mendy 7, Fernandinho 7, Sterling 8, De Bruyne 9, Silva 8, Agüero 9, Jesus 7. Subs: Bernardo 6, Gundogan 6, Sane 6.

27' - GOAL! Watford 0-1 Manchester City. Aguero scores - De Bruyne curls in a free kick from the left, and Aguero leaps at the near post to glance past Gomes - but he was left unmarked, and should have been flagged offside..

31' - GOAL! Watford 0-2 Manchester City. Aguero scores - Jesus toes a lovely pass into the path of Silva's run, and from the byline he crosses towards goal. Gomes flails at it, but can't stop it running to Aguero who taps into an empty net.

38' - GOAL! Watford 0-3 Manchester City. Jesus scores - Aguero cuts in from the right, 40 yards from goal. He dashes to just outside the D, then lays the ball off to his right for Jesus's run into the box, which he guides past Gomes into the far corner.

63' - GOAL! Watford 0-4 Manchester City. Otamendi scores - A Silva cross from a short corner is thundered in to seal victory for City after some early Watford pressure.

81' - GOAL! Watford 0-5 Manchester City. Aguero scores - Aguero collects the ball outside the box on the right, cuts into the box and eases past a block of defenders. With room for a shot, he drives a shot into the far corner.

89' - GOAL! Watford 0-6 Manchester City. Sterling scores - Kabesele slides in late on Sterling in the box, and it's a clear penalty. Sterling asks Guardiola for permission to replace Aguero for the spot-kick, and he coolly slots home.

In the last week City have won three games with a combined scoreline of 15-0 (5-0 v Liverpool, 4-0 at Feyenoord, 6-0 at Watford)

Aguero now has six Premier League hat-tricks. Only Shearer (11), Fowler (9), Owen and Henry (8) have scored more.

Man City have scored more goals in their last two PL games at Vicarage Road (8) than Watford (7) have in their last 8 at the ground.