Premier League Top Five, Round 22: Aguero leads City rout
Sergio Aguero scored three goals against Aston Villa on Sunday in a 6-1 Manchester City win to make him the highest-scoring overseas player in Premier League history, overtaking Thierry Henry. He was in devastating form in front of goal, but was helped by some abject defending from the home side, while Orjan Nyland was poor between the sticks as he allowed a decent strike through his arms into the top corner in the first half. Aguero's second was a lovely individual effort, as he skillfully evaded tackles inside the box before sliding a finish into the bottom right corner. For his hat-trick goal, he was given a huge helping hand by a wayward Villa pass via Riyad Mahrez to run through on goal before confidently dispatching a right-footed strike into the right corner.
Another man who played just as well as Aguero in that match was his team-mate Mahrez, who continued his upturn in form with two goals and an assist. The first one scored by the Algerian was probably the goal of the game, as he typically drifted in from the right into the box, displaying a superb command of the ball to twist and turn before eventually squeezing a finish low into the corner. His second came just six minutes later, as he latched on to a loose ball inside the box to smash a bouncing volley home. He then turned provider for the sixth goal, finding Aguero with a composed pass. Mahrez enjoyed 90 touches of the ball, and sent 32 passes into the final third, too.
It was a rarity for City on Sunday as Pep Guardiola opted to play both Aguero and Gabriel Jesus from the start, and although they were playing a poor Villa team, it paid off. The Brazilian scored one and set up another as part of the six goals. He was a provider before a finisher, as he found Mahrez inside with a pass for the second, while he found himself free at the back post to finish with a calm left-footed strike after a cross from Kevin De Bruyne for the fourth. He was placed to the left of the front three on this occasion, but worked tirelessly, winning the majority of his duels and aerial duels, as well as making seven ball recoveries.
Away from Manchester City, now, as Manchester United actually enjoyed a decent weekend, defeating Norwich 4-0. Juan Mata, given a surprising start at Olf Trafford, was the best player on the pitch, setting up two of the first three goals for Marcus Rashford and then Anthony Martial. He sent 40 passes into the final third which was the most of anyone in the Premier League this weekend alongside compatriot David Silva. Overall, he completed 64/71 passes, had 82 touches, and made six ball recoveries.
Abdoulaye Doucoure was at his box-to-box best as Watford beat Bournemouth 3-0 away, as kept the visitors solid in the middle of the park with eight ball recoveries and 6/9 duels won, but he also contributed going forward, too, with a goal and an assist. The Frenchman opened the scoring with a lovely finish at the back post after some awful defending from the Cherries, and although he will receive an official assist for Troy Deeney's goal, he knew nothing about it as he was on his backside!
HONOURABLE MENTION
While the goalscorers will take most of the plaudits for Man City, David Silva (8.6) was also terrific in his return to the starting XI, setting up Aguero's second as well as completing 81/85 passes.
ROUND TO FORGET
It was a round to forget for the entire Aston Villa team, but Kortney Hause (3.8) was particularly ineffective in defence as he was given the runaround by City. He made one direct error leading to a goal and lost possession 10 times.