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Champions Manchester City produced a stunning response to last week\u2019s shock loss at Norwich as they they thrashed their favorite whipping boys Watford 8-0.<\/p>\nChampions Manchester City produced a stunning response to last week\u2019s shock loss at Norwich as they they thrashed their favorite whipping boys Watford 8-0.<\/p>\n
Bernardo Silva claimed his first top-flight hat-trick as Pep Guardiola\u2019s side ran riot at the Etihad Stadium to move back within two points of Premier League leaders Liverpool.<\/p>\n
Sergio Ag\u00fcero \u2013 who might easily have had a treble himself in an embarrassingly one-sided encounter \u2013 also got on the scoresheet along with David Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Nicolas Otamendi and Kevin De Bruyne.<\/p>\n
It was the perfect way for City to celebrate their 125th anniversary and a sobering result for the newly-reinstalled Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores.<\/p>\n
In the end the rampant hosts stopped just short of equaling rivals Manchester United\u2019s Premier League record 9-0 defeat of Ipswich in 1995.<\/p>\n
City could even have had more as they racked up 28 attempts on goal against the league\u2019s winless bottom side, including two that hit the woodwork.<\/p>\n
In their nine previous meetings since the Hornets were promoted to the top flight in 2014, City had scored 31 goals, including their 6-0 walkover in last season\u2019s FA Cup final.<\/p>\n
They were even more rampant than at Wembley, where it took them 26 minutes to score their first goal, as they raced into a 5-0 lead inside 18 minutes.<\/p>\n
David Silva notched the first after just 52 seconds, applying the simple finishing touches from a typically sublime right-wing cross from De Bruyne.<\/p>\n
Remarkably Watford almost replied immediately as Gerard Deulofeu skipped past an Otamendi challenge but his shot was deflected wide by Ederson.<\/p>\n
That was as good as it got for the visitors as Ag\u00fcero doubled City\u2019s lead from the penalty spot on seven minutes after Mahrez was brought down by Ben Foster.<\/p>\n
Mahrez was tripped again on the edge of the area five minutes later and he stepped up to fire in the resulting free-kick, albeit with aid of a big deflection off Tom Cleverley.<\/p>\n
Bernardo Silva made it 4-0 with a simple diving header after Otamendi flicked on a corner and the Argentinian defender himself grabbed the fifth soon after.<\/p>\n
Watford again switched off at a set-piece and Ag\u00fcero broke clear to set up his countryman with a low cross to the far post.<\/p>\n
It was certainly not a Premier League debut to remember for Watford right-back Dimitri Foulquier and his embarrassment was completed when Flores substituted him after 33 minutes.<\/p>\n
City did not score again until the second half but they could easily have been leading 8-0 at the break as Ag\u00fcero shot wide when through on goal and then hit the post before forcing a good save from Foster.<\/p>\n
Normal service was resumed after the restart as Bernardo Silva grabbed two more to claim a hat-trick.<\/p>\n
Both were simple finishes in front of goal after being teed up by David Silva and De Bruyne respectively.<\/p>\n
Ag\u00fcero put another shot wide and Mahrez then headed against the bar as City showed the visitors little respite.<\/p>\n
De Bruyne claimed the eighth with a thumping shot into the roof of the net five minutes from time and the Belgian almost made it a record-equaling nine moments later but dragged his shot wide.<\/p>\n