MAN CITY 6, HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 1
ON the day Manchester City’s hat-trick heroes from the 10-1 win against Huddersfield Town were reunited, Sergio Aguero’s treble helped earn a comprehensive victory against the Terriers.
David White, Paul Stewart and Tony Adcock, from the class of 1987, were paraded on the Etihad pitch before kick-off.
It was then Aguero’s turn to take centre stage with his 13th treble for City, nine of which have been plundered in the Premier League.
And it could well have been another 10-1 scoreline as City were also twice denied by the frame of the goal and created a staggering 32 goalscoring chances to Town’s five.
The stats were compelling and told the story of a one-sided contest in which City enjoyed 77-per-cent possession, registered 14 goal attempts on target to Town’s one and the corner count was also 10-3 in their favour.
Aguero could easily have bagged a double hat-trick as he was almost unplayable during an afternoon in which Gabriel Jesus and David Silva were also on target while Terence Kongolo put through his own goal.
That was a point raised when City manager Pep Guardiola was asked whether Aguero could become even more clinical.
“When he scores three goals in a game that is okay. I am not demanding him to be more clinical,” he said.
Guardiola added Aguero has had injury problems in recent seasons, but he returned in perfect shape.
“He proved with his movement, passes, assists, goals – he never stopped today – that he is one of the best strikers in the world without doubt,” he said.
Guardiola added it was a conscious decision to play with two strikers to have more presence in the box against a team playing four or five at the back and also with a holding midfield player.
City manager is pleased how his side is taking shape after many players reported back late, adding the consistency of their football had noticeably improved from the Community Shield and opening Premier League win at Arsenal.
Huddersfield manager David Wagner admitted his side was second best and struggled to handle the speed of the City players.
After losing heavily to Chelsea and City in their first two games, Wagner said: “We hoped for more, but did not expect more. Our season starts on Saturday against Cardiff.
“We suffered heavy defeats against top-six sides last season, and City showed they are a top-quality side, but it only counts what’s ahead.”
City made three changes from the side that won at Arsenal as Raheem Sterling, Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez made way for Silva, Jesus and Vincent Kompany.
Huddersfield were without former City player Aaron Mooy whose wife had gone into labour while Mathias Jorgensen and Jonathan Hogg were injured.
It was clear from the start Huddersfield were in for a torrid afternoon as City had three great chances in the first five minutes.
Steve Mounie sliced a clearance from inside the six-yard box on to his own cross bar, Jesus was denied by super block by keeper Ben Hamer and then failed to connect properly with a Silva cross from three yards.
Huddersfield continued to live dangerously as they had to withstand wave after wave of City attacks.
City made the breakthrough in the 25th minute. It came from route one, a long goal kick from Ederson that caught out Christopher Schindler as Aguero burst through on goal. Keeper Hamer was drawn from his line and Aguero found the net with a cool chip from the edge of the box.
And it was soon 2-0 as Jesus was on the mark with a low drive that followed a series of return passes involving the Brazilian and French wing-back Benjamin Mendy.
City made it 3-0 in the 34th minute after Aguero found the net again. Mendy fired in a low cross that Hamer spilled and Aguero had a simple tap-in from five yards.
Huddersfield, in fairness, failed to throw in the towel and made it 3-1 late in the half.
Mounie headed on Philip Billing’s long throw and Slovenian Stankovic slotted home from inside the six-yard box.
It was only a minor blip as normal service was resumed within three minutes of the restart when City made it 4-1.
Aguero was fouled 25 yards from goal and Silva, on his 250th City appearance, bent a sumptuous free kick over the defensive wall into the top corner with Hamer rooted to the spot.
And it was almost five when a fabulous drive from Aguero struck the base of the upright with Hamer beaten.
Aguero was unluck again just short of the hour when his drive flashed just wide of the upright.
City made their first change mid-half when Silva, who had picked up a shoulder injury, was replaced by Mahrez.
Aguero went close yet again with a low drive, following a one-two with Jesus, that was well kept out by Hamer.
Sergio Aguero gets his hat trick
The Argentine was not to be denied with 15 minutes left when he completed his hat trick with a brilliant back heel following a low, left-wing cross from Mendy. It was his 205th goal for City and his 14th goal in his last eight league games at the Etihad.
It was his last action of the game as moments later he was replaced by Leroy Sane.
City made their last change with eight minutes left as Phil Foden came on for a cameo replacing Ilkay Gundogan.
It was soon 6-1 as Sane raced clear on the left and his low cross rebounded off Hamer and into the net off the unlucky Kongolo.
Hamer prevented a seventh goal with a fine stop to deny Bernardo Silva as City kept driving forward, even though victory had long been assured as they went top of the table which must be daunting for the clubs dreaming of wrestling their title away from them.