Manchester City yesterday thrashed Aston Villa 6-1 as Sergio Aguero netted a hat-trick to break two records, Riyad Mahrez scored twice and former Leicester City team-mate Danny Drinkwater endured a debut to forget.
The contest was settled in a 10-minute spell at Villa Park in which Mahrez grabbed a double and Aguero equalled Thierry Henry as the Premier League’s top-scoring non-Englishman, later surpassing him and grabbing a record 12th hat-trick in the process.
Mahrez broke the deadlock after easily shrugging off Drinkwater’s dithering presence, while the three-cap England international gave the ball away in his own box to allow his former Foxes team-mate to double his tally.
Aguero’s rasping drive put City in control and Gabriel Jesus made it 4-0 before the break, with Villa’s punishment extended by two more goals for Aguero after the break – Anwar El Ghazi’s late penalty a minor blemish for the champions.
Meanwhile, Watford’s resurgence under Nigel Pearson continued as they beat Bournemouth 3-0 to move out of the Premier League’s bottom three for the first time this season.
Goals from Abdoulaye Doucoure, Troy Deeney and Roberto Pereyra earned the Hornets a third successive top-flight win, with Pearson’s side now unbeaten in five matches.
There was a degree of fortune to their opening goal as young Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers chipped straight to Ismaila Sarr, who crossed for Doucoure to finish three minutes before half-time.
Watford dominated after the break and doubled their advantage in the 66th minute when Deeney blasted home following more good work from Sarr, with substitute Pereyra hooking in a third goal in stoppage time.
