Manchester City sent a warning to title rivals Liverpool with a stunning demolition of Chelsea, with Sergio Aguero’s record-equalling 11th hat-trick leading the reigning champions to an incredible 6-0 victory.
The result saw City retake the lead atop the table, three points above Liverpool having played a game more, while Chelsea dropped to sixth.
MANCHESTER CITY
Starting XI
Ederson 7 – Made a wonderful save to tip over an equally-superb volley from Gonzalo Higuain but was kept relatively quiet as City’s attackers came to the fore.
Kyle Walker 7 – An assured performance from the England full-back as he kept Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard subdued.
John Stones 7 – Was regularly able to disrupt Chelsea’s rare forays forward.
Aymeric Laporte 7 – Chelsea’s attacking might was strangled by his and Stones’ interventions.
Alexander Zinchenko 8 – A tireless performance from City’s left-back, whose cross allowed Raheem Sterling to complete the scoring.
Ilkay Gundogan 7 – Took his goal well and rarely conceded possession, justifying his selection ahead of David Silva.
Fernandinho 7 – Usual busy presence in the centre of midfield.
Kevin De Bruyne 7 – His quick thinking from a free-kick freed Bernardo Silva on the right, leading to City’s opener. Starting to show signs of his best form after an injury-plagued season.
Bernardo Silva 8 – Gave Marcos Alonso a torrid time on Chelsea’s left-hand side. Was regularly in the thick of the action and provided the assist for Sterling to open the scoring.
Sergio Aguero 9 – Conspired to miss from two yards but proved his class by expertly finding the top corner from distance. Scored twice more for his 11th Premier League hat-trick.
Raheem Sterling 9 – A dynamic performance saw the England forward book-end the scoring while he won the penalty that helped Aguero bag his third.
Substitutes
Gabriel Jesus (on for Aguero, 65) 6 – Had a couple of opportunities to get on the score sheet but was unable to take them.
Riyad Mahrez (on for De Bruyne, 68) 6 – Gave City fresh legs in the latter stages.
David Silva (on for Fernandinho, 75) 7 – Opened up Chelsea’s defence for Zinchenko to tee up Sterling’s second.
9 - Sergio Aguero has scored nine Premier League hat-tricks at the Etihad - the most by a player on a single ground, breaking the record held by Thierry Henry at Highbury (eight hat-tricks). Homely. pic.twitter.com/paQDUIF4PL
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 10, 2019
CHELSEA
Starting XI
Kepa Arrizabalaga 5 – Probably should have done better with Gundogan’s low strike but was relatively blameless for the City onslaught.
Cesar Azpilicueta 5 – Conceded the penalty after tripping Sterling, who gave his Spanish marker a tough afternoon.
Antonio Rudiger 5 – Unable to contain the relentlessness of Aguero.
David Luiz 5 – Was powerless to stem the tide.
Marcos Alonso 5 – Unable to handle the creativity of the indefatigable Bernardo Silva, especially in the first half.
N’Golo Kante 5 – A below-par performance from the Frenchman, who sometimes found himself bypassed.
Jorginho 6 – Found himself overrun at times although he was always a willing runner.
Ross Barkley 4 – Inexplicably headed towards his own goal which allowed Aguero to score his second and City’s third, effectively ending any hope of a comeback.
Pedro 5 – A largely anonymous display from the Spaniard.
Gonzalo Higuain 6 – Long-distance volley well saved by Ederson but was unable to impose himself.
Eden Hazard 5 – Caught napping for City’s opener, allowing Bernardo Silva to latch on to De Bruyne’s free-kick, and his mazy runs often came to nothing.
Substitutes
Mateo Kovacic (for Barkley, 52) 6 – Brought on to shore up Chelsea’s midfield.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (on for Pedro, 65) 5 – Could not make an impact.
Emerson (on for Alonso, 73) 6 – Tidy enough from the Italian.
1.2% of the goals Chelsea have ever conceded in the PL have come in their last three away games
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) February 10, 2019
