Manchester City 8-0 Watford: Hosts score five in opening 18 minutes in hammering

Bernardo Silva scored his first Manchester City hat-trick on a desperate day for Watford

Five goals in the first 18 minutes set Manchester City on their way as they ripped apart a woeful Watford team to cut Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to two points.

City had already bounced back from last weekend’s humbling by Norwich with a clinical Champions League win at Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, but this was a timely reminder of their ruthlessness and attacking power.

Bernardo Silva scored a hat-trick as Pep Guardiola’s side ran riot to clinch their biggest league win since he took charge in 2016. They also hit the woodwork twice and continued to chase further goals until the end, but a record victory eluded them.

Manchester United’s 9-0 win over Ipswich in 1995 remains the biggest victory in the Premier League era but City become only the seventh team to win a top-flight game by an eight-goal margin in the modern era.

City scored the opener after 52 seconds through David Silva before Sergio Aguero added a penalty and Riyad Mahrez struck via a deflection.

Bernarndo Silva headed the fourth and Nicolas Otamendi slid in the fifth. After the break City’s intensity eased but Bernarndo Silva struck twice more and Kevin de Bruyne slammed in the eighth.

City’s early onslaught

After David Silva got on the end of a brilliantly bending cross from De Bruyne to slide home from six yards, Watford almost hit back immediately. Gerard Deulofeu went round Nicolas Otamendi with an ease that will worry City boss Pep Guardiola, but saw his shot saved by an onrushing Ederson.

From then on, the home side took complete control – aided by a defensive horror show by the Hornets that saw them suffer an even bigger nightmare than when City hit them for six in the FA Cup final last May.

Ben Foster gave away a needless penalty when he rushed from his line to send Mahrez tumbling, with Aguero converting from the spot, and things quickly got worse for the visitors.

Mahrez made it 3-0 after 12 minutes when his free-kick deflected in off Tom Cleverley, and after 15 minutes it was 4-0 when more dreadful marking allowed Bernardo Silva to stoop and head home after Otamendi flicked on a corner.

Otamendi himself made it 5-0 shortly afterwards when he turned in Aguero’s clever cut-back, before City gave their fans a rest from further celebrations – for a little while at least.

The onslaught continued after half-time when Bernardo Silva slotted home from a David Silva pass to make it 6-0, and he completed his first hat-trick for City when he converted another De Bruyne cross on the hour mark.

De Bruyne, one of the key orchestrators of this attacking masterclass, got his name on the scoresheet before the end too, casually smashing home City’s eighth with five minutes left.

City’s fans urged their team forward for more goals – and United’s record – but for once on what was a painful afternoon for them, Watford’s defence held out.

Man of the match – Kevin de Bruyne

He finished with a goal and two assists but statistics do not do justice to the quality of his passing and crossing. Watford simply could not live with him.

Up next?

Manchester City begin their defence of the Carabao Cup at Championship side Preston on Tuesday with Watford hosting another high-flying second-tier side, Swansea, on the same night (both 19:45 BST kick-offs).

Both teams are in action in the Premier League next Saturday. Watford travel to fellow strugglers Wolves (15:00 BST) while City have a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton (17:30 BST).

More to follow.