Watford 0-6 Manchester City: Sergio Aguero nets stunning hat-trick as Pep Guardiola's men thrash the Hornets to go top of the Premier League

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Sergio Aguero proved he is as undroppable as Manchester City are unstoppable right now.

The striker scored three of City's six goals as they crushed Watford under a purple rampage of pure football to move to the top of the Premier League table.

Aguero underlined his class and his quality with the hat-trick and an assist for Gabriel Jesus, while Nicolas Otamendi and Raheem Sterling added the rest. To think he could have left City if they signed Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez during the transfer window.  

Sergio Aguero scored three goals on Saturday to extend his record to nine goals in five games against Watford

Aguero jumped highest to head in Manchester City's opener from Kevin De Bruyne's wonderful free-kick

He has not let that hold him back, scoring for the sixth time in six games; if anything it has spurred the 29-year-old on. 'He's a legend, he's a part of history of the club,' City manager Pep Gaurdiola said.

If City had not won their opening 10 games of last season and still concluded the campaign so disappointingly it would be difficult not to tip them as title favourites. 'Last season I think in the beginning we won especially for the new manager, new players, everybody expecting good things, some games we won because we were new,' Guardiola said. 'Now I think we're more stable, we know each other better, they know me better, I know them better. We know the staff better. You put the right pieces [in place] for the new players, they come to help us to be better.'

The puzzle is complete: this was 90 minutes of breathtaking football. When City get into their stride there is little that can stop them. Five against Liverpool, four against Feyenoord. Now 15 goals in the space of three games and eight days. Their opponents Watford have started the season under Marco Silva as one of the early surprises; eight points from their first four games and fourth in the table ahead of kick-off, with a chance to lead the top-flight for the first time since 1982. 

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE 

Watford (4-2-3-1): Gomes 5; Janmaat 5, Mariappa 5, Kabasele 5, Holebas 5; Chalobah 6 (Capoue 70 5.5), Doucoure 5; Carrillo 5, Cleverley 5.5 (Pereyra 65 6), Richarlison 6; Gray 6 (Deeney 74 6).

Subs not used: Karnezis, Success, Wague, Zeegelarr.

Manager: Marco Silva 4.5

Booked: Holebas, Doucoure

Manchester City (4-1-3-2): Ederson 7; Walker 7.5, Stones 7, Otamendi 7.5, Mendy 7.5; Fernandinho 7.5; De Bruyne 8 (Gundogan 66 6.5), D Silva 8 (Sane 78), Sterling 7.5; Aguero 8.5, Jesus 8 (B Silva 65).

Subs not used: Bravo, Danilo, Mangala, Delph.

Manager: Pep Guardiola 8.5 

Booked: n/a

Referee: Anthony Taylor 6

Man of the Match: Aguero

Attendance: 20,305 

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CLICK HERE to view our brilliant Match Zone including Gabriel Jesus' goal.

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The Argentine striker added his side's second just four minutes after his opener as he connected with Gabriel Jesus' cross 

Watford struggled to stop Manchester City running away with the game in the first-half as Aguero celebrates his second 

The Argentine striker completed a stunning hat-trick against the Hornets, his tenth as a Manchester City player 

Manchester City move up to first in the Premier League with this win at Watford, with Manchester United playing on Sunday

How Sergio Aguero completed his hat-trick on Saturday against Watford

De Bruyne continued his fantastic form this season and his whipped free-kick set up his side's opener

Gabriel Jesus got on the scoresheet to score his side's third goal, capitalising from good build-up play by Aguero

Yet City were at full speed at Vicarage Road, three ahead by half-time with a haul that could have been double that and Aguero their traditional nemesis. His treble took his tally to nine goals in five games against them.

It took 27 minutes of swarming football, but eventually Kevin De Bruyne sent in a free kick from 10 yards inside Watford's half - near to the left flank - curled into that area behind defenders that they hate and attackers love and little Aguero had only to direct the header into the left of goal.

Three minutes before that opener Watford almost took the lead in identical circumstances. Jose Holebas with the delivery into a similarly dangerous place and Brazilian Richarlison with a similar header that flew inches the wrong side of the post. 

But to compound matters for the home side, four minutes after the goal Aguero had his second of the game. Jesus confounded a Watford player on the left touchline, played the ball into David Silva inside the area on the byline and his low ball went through the hands of Heurelho Gomes, leaving Aguero to tap in.

The third goal came 10 minutes after the first in a devastating first-half spell. This time Aguero turned provider, dribbling to the edge of Watford's area and sliding a neat ball into Jesus' path, who snapped a shot first-time into the left of goal. Replays suggested the Brazilian offside, but the goal stood. 

Hornets man Nathaniel Chalobah speaks with the referee as the Watford players come out fighting in the second half 

Nicolas Otamendi connects well with a David Silva corner to head City into a well-deserved 4-0 lead in the second half

Otamendi celebrates scoring the fourth goal as Manchester City continue their dominance into the second half

Who said Jesus would be the end of Aguero at City? Not at this rate. If they are supposed to be the past and the future, right now they are combining somewhere in the middle and it makes for a beautiful spectacle. Watching City play this well is like watching a great artwork being formed; Guardiola the artist, the players every brush stroke. 

Watford were out early in the second half, the players put through some short drills over cones, determined to keep sharp, not to give up. They came close again soon into the second half when the ball dropped to Andre Carrillo on the corner of City's area and he swiped a right boot at it, sending it bouncing just wide.

But City - and Aguero - did not ease off. Kyle Walker appeared to kick Nathaniel Chalobah by mistake as he went to clear and while the Watford midfielder lay crumpled on the turf City broke. The ball ended up with Aguero, who placed his shot wide. A minute later, Benjamin Mendy crossed from the left and Aguero was in front of his marker to prod the ball towards goal, but wide again.

Silva had a go from inside the area, sending a shot towards the top left corner that Gomes pushed over. The ball was worked out from the corner, then Silva crossed and Otamendi headed in the fourth. 

Watford players, arguing with referee Anthony Taylor, looked frustrated as they struggled to make an impact on the match

John Stones, who scored twice in Manchester City's 4-0 win over Feyenoord, is tackled by Watford's Tom Cleverley

Sterling scored City's sixth goal of the day as he calmly finished from the penalty spot having been brought down 

Sterling celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot following a brief moment of confusion over who should take it

Sterling returned to the Manchester City squad after serving his suspension for jumping into the crowd at Bournemouth

The best goal of Aguero's goals was saved until his last. With nine minutes remaining, Aguero attacked the right corner of the penalty area, gliding effortlessly through four Watford players before rolling the ball past Gomes and in off the left post.

'He's just involved a little bit [more] without the ball,' Guardiola explained. 'He did it last season the same, he did it now. Especially involved in the game. He's a guy who I encourage to play. Not just to be there to score a goal.

'How many times we play with him on the ball? I like not to have one or two players just defending or two or three just to score, I like everybody to defend, everybody has to play, everybody has to move to try to enjoy having the ball. The ball is the centre, it's why the players are here.'

Sterling won a last-minute penalty and dispatched it. By the final whistle, six was generous on Watford. 

City keeper Ederson donned a protective cap following his collision with Sadio Mane which left him with facial injuries

A star-studded crowd watched on at Vicarage Road on Saturday, including England boss Gareth Southgate (bottom-right)