James Nalton
Men's Football Scintillating performance as Manchester City demolish Chelsea to move top of the table
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga dives in vain as Manchester City's Sergio Aguero (centre, background) scores his side's second goal of the game
Anything you can do we can do better. Manchester City once again leapfrogged Liverpool at the top of the Premier League following the most emphatic of victories against Chelsea.
They may have played a game more than Liverpool who dismantled Bournemouth at the weekend, but as Jurgen Klopp's challengers scored three, City went and scored six. It means they are now 10 goals ahead of their closest rivals in the goal difference column which could be worth a point come the end of the season.
City's manager, Pep Guardiola, said it was the best performance he'd seen from his side at Eastlands as Sergio Aguero walked away with the match ball following his second hat-trick in a week.
"The players were outstanding, thank you to them for what they have done," said Guardiola
"Chelsea demanded a lot. The last 20 minutes of the first half we defended like never before.
"A team like them, they create, they jam, and create problems, but we found the spaces. Scoring six goals against Chelsea is not easy. We are so pleased for this week not just today, but [also wins against] Arsenal and Everton.
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri is coming under pressure early in his tenure, but Guardiola believes the Italian needs and deserves time to implement his ideas.
"People don't understand how difficult it is," he said.
"In my first year it was tough too, it needs time. I know exactly what he wants to do. They beat us at Stamford Bridge, against Napoli it was tight and in moments they were better."
This will be of little comfort to Sarri though who saw his side concede four goals in the first half alone. A Raheem Sterling-brace and an Ilkay Gundogan effort were added to Aguero's haul.
"We conceded the goal after four or five minutes in [a] stupid way," said Sarri.
"At that moment we had to stay in the match and we were not able to because we made a lot of mistakes against the wrong opponents. We have to say also that [City] played fantastic football."
The two meet again in the League Cup final at the end of the month. As it stands it's Guardiola two, Sarri one from their three meetings so far this season, but on Sunday's display the Catalan is favourite to come out on top at Wembley.