MAN CITY 5, WATFORD 1
Gabriel Jesus was Manchester City’s samba star in the emphatic home victory against relegation-threatened Watford.
The Brazilian scored four times – more than in his first 23 Premier League appearances this season – and provided the assist for Rodri’s goal.
It was a terrific display from Jesus who, in the space of 53 minutes, scored half of his season’s total of goals as he kicked off with eight and finished with 12.
He was also the first player to score four goals in a Premier League in 18 months, a feat last achieved by Tottenham’s Son Heung-min.
And Jesus was only the third City player to score four goals in a league game following in the footsteps of Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero.
Jesus, who has been by no means a regular starter this season, was the star of the show – his work rate and link-up play was also terrific – as City made it 15 straight wins in all competitions against the Hornets since 2007.
And Pep Guardiola still has a 100 per cent record against Watford with 11 wins and a goals’ return of 47 for and five against.
The win lifted City four points clear of Liverpool who are in derby action against Everton tomorrow.
Perhaps as significant was the boost to City’s goal difference which could be crucial in such a tight title race.
They began the day six goals worse off than Liverpool, but the deficit is now only two.
Embed from Getty ImagesJesus said: “Today was my day. We played very good today, we created a lot of chances, that’s what we need to do.
“We made passes and passes to create chances and try to score, and today we were very good on the finishing.
“It was my first hat-trick in the Premier League. I’ve tried. Sometimes I’ve scored two then I’ve hit a post, the defender has blocked [my shot], or the keeper has saved, but today was my day.
“I’m very happy with the three points. The team played so good, and we deserved it.”
And on putting pressure on Liverpool, Jesus added: “We have to do our job, not look to them. We know they have a lot of amazing players and can win all the games. We are in front and, of course, it’s not easy but we have to do our job.”
Guardiola added: “Nothing changes. When we won against Brighton, we were two points behind [before the game], now we’re four in front. Brighton was a ‘final’. We had another ‘final’ today and we won it. Now we have an opportunity to play a ‘final’ against Leeds.
“Nothing changes. We have to win all five games to be champions.
“We started well from the first minute of the first half and second half. We didn’t defend well, we were not aggressive enough. But the players up front, not just Gabriel for his incredible four goals, but all of them were brilliant.
“If there’s one person who deserves the best in life for him, his family and his friends, it’s Gabriel. All of us at the club, when he has one of these situations, we’re happy for him because he’s so generous. It doesn’t matter what position he’s going to play. We know how he fights for his mates. He’s fantastic.”
Watford manager Roy Hodgson admitted the size of the loss was not good for the confidence of his players.
“Everyone who watches Manchester City will not be surprised when they scored three goals plus,” he explained.
“City were clearly the better team, and nobody expected us to get much out of the game, but a heavy defeat will weigh on our players and we will have to lift confidence for next week.
“To concede five goals here, you cannot say we have improved the defending as we would have liked.”
Hodgson added he will not concede defeat in the battle against relegation until it is mathematically impossible.
City made six changes from the side that beat Brighton on Wednesday.
Ruben Dias, who returned from a hamstring injury when he came off the bench for the second half against the Seagulls, made his first start since March 1.
Oleksandar Zinchenko was given the nod at left-back while Fernandinho came into midfield to play alongside Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne.
Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish formed the attack as they did at Wembley in last weekend’s FA Cup semi-final.
Kyle Walker and John Stones were both absent through injury.
Watford made three changes from the side that were beaten by an injury-time goal by Brentford last weekend.
Jeremy Ngakia started at right-back for his first game since the end of February, Tom Cleverley was back in midfield and Joshua King returned up front.
Watford, who had suffered 14 straight defeats against City, needed a solid start, certainly not to concede as early as the fourth minute.
Joao Cancelo’s cross from the right eluded everyone but was fired back across the face of goal by left-back Zinchenko for Jesus to fire home from six yards.
Watford had a chance to draw level from Emmanuel Dennis broke clear from his own half and was bearing down on goal until Zinchenko saved the day with a last-gasp tackle.
City carved out another decent chance when Fernandinho and Jesus set up Cancelo whose fiercely struck effort was well beaten away by goalkeeper Ben Foster.
They doubled their lead in the 23rd minute as Jesus struck again heading home a De Bruyne cross from six yards, his ninth goal of the season.
City were given a timely reminder five minutes later that it might not end up a cricket score as they halved the deficit through Kamara.
Dennis played a ball over City’s defence for Kamara, from the left of the box, firing a low shot into the far corner, aided by a deflection as Ederson will be disappointed as he got a glove to the effort but failed to keep it out.
It was the midfielder’s first goal for the Hornets since his £4million signing from French club Nice in January.
City regained their two-goal advantage in the 34th minute with a goal-of-the-month contender from Rodri.
Jesus provided the assist cutting the ball back from the right for Rodri to chest down before his half volley from 25 yards arrowed into the top corner, his fourth of the season.
City should have had a fourth goal not long after when Sterling blazed over from Jesus’ cross.
There was an electrifying start to the second period when City won a penalty inside 15 seconds.
Jesus robbed Kamara before being cleaned out by Foster, a stonewall penalty, though it took almost three minutes to complete a VAR check as there was an issue with referee Kevin Friend’s microphone links to Stockley Park.
Jesus stepped up to send Foster the wrong way and complete a first Premier League hat-trick for the Blues.
And it was soon 5-1 as Jesus hit his fourth of the game after a delightful build up ended with Jesus playing a return pass with De Bruyne before scoring with a low shot from 10 yards.
Guardiola, with victory assured, took off talisman De Bruyne before the hour as he was replaced by Ilkay Gundogan. This was soon followed by Nathan Ake being introduced for Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez for Rodri.
The game suddenly more like a pre-season kickabout, though Watford had a great chance to score a second goal when substitute Joao Pedro headed wide at the far post from a couple of yards from Dennis’ free kick.