London: Manchester City thumped Watford 6-0 to move top of the Premier League on Saturday as Crystal Palace suffered their fifth successive loss in a 1-0 defeat by Southampton.

With joint leaders Manchester United playing on Sunday, along with Chelsea, City took their opportunity to lay down a title marker with another attacking masterclass and go three points clear of their neighbours at the summit.

Sergio Aguero scored his 10th City hat-trick, with strike partner Gabriel Jesus, Nicolas Otamendi and Raheem Sterling also netting against previously unbeaten Watford as City, who beat Liverpool 5-0 and Feyenoord 4-0 this week, romped home.

Aguero has now scored 175 goals for City and is closing in on the club’s all-time record of 177, set by Eric Brook between 1928 and 1940.

“I was lucky to manage Barcelona with many outstanding performances but this week has been a lot of goals,” said manager Pep Guardiola. “We have found our game, we can make short passes and we have a lot of energy from our fullbacks,” added the Spaniard whose side had 28 shots on goal and inflicted Watford’s heaviest top-flight league defeat.

Crystal Palace failed to benefit from the Roy Hodgson effect as Steven Davis’s early goal and two saves by Fraser Forster helped Southampton beat the Premier League’s bottom club 1-0 at Selhurst Park.

It was hardly much better for Liverpool who completed a disappointing week by drawing 1-1 with Burnley at Anfield.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Wembley woes continued as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Swansea City. Victory would have lifted last season’s runners-up to third but they sit fifth with eight points after five games.

(Agencies)

RESULTS

Bournemouth 2 Brighton 1; Newcastle 2 Stoke 1; Southampton 1 Palace 0; Man City 6 Watford 0; West Brom 0 West Ham 0; Liverpool 1 Burnley 1; Huddersfield 1 Leicester 1; Spurs 0 Swansea 0