Manchester Metropolis Three-1 Watford

Runaway leaders Manchester Metropolis confirmed no in unhappy health-outcomes from the stay of their 18-game Premier League apt flee by with ease beating Watford.

Taking part in two days after the 0-0 procedure at Crystal Palace, Metropolis took appropriate appropriate 38 seconds to start the scoring as Raheem Trusty slotted dwelling Leroy Sane’s immoral for the quickest procedure within the Premier League this season.

Metropolis, who are 15 sides above 2nd-placed Manchester United, doubled their lead when Kevin de Bruyne’s immoral became as soon as was his possess rep by a sliding Christian Kabasele.

De Bruyne, who started the match after getting better like a flash from a rotten attempting injure against Palace, then had a free-kick tipped on to the bar by Heurelho Gomes.

Metropolis bought the 1/Three procedure their dominance merited when Sergio Aguero scored from discontinuance differ after the Watford goalkeeper parried De Bruyne’s immoral.

Andre Grey netted a leisurely comfort for Watford, tapping dwelling Andre Carrillo’s low immoral.

The traffic, who remain 10th by virtue of their early season invent, own misplaced 10 of their previous 14 games.

Metropolis observe valid with returning gamers

Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola acknowledged after the game – his team’s 10th in a month – that the busy festive length is « going to abolish the gamers ».

The leaders were without striker Gabriel Jesus, who will be out for one to 2 months after injuring a knee against Palace, however that appropriate intended a start for all-time high scorer Aguero.

De Bruyne recovered instantly from his Palace knock to start, while defender John Stones returned from the hamstring injure which had sidelined him for over a month and playmaker David Silva became as soon as help after two games out for deepest reasons.

Nonetheless, Guardiola acknowledged after the game that Silva might perhaps perhaps need more break day.

Metropolis – attempting to fabricate issues enticing after losing sides for handiest the 2nd time this season – led 2-0 after 13 minutes. They would nearly relax at that stage against a team completely off form.

Trusty’s opener became as soon as Metropolis’s 1/Three quickest within the Premier League era.

Aguero – who has now scored 10 targets in six games against Watford – would own scored earlier had Kabasele no longer turned De Bruyne’s immoral into his possess rep sooner than it reached the Argentine.

He uncared for a hat-trick of probabilities from De Bruyne crosses, denied twice by Gomes and heading well wide, sooner than scoring after the goalkeeper’s fumble.

Stones furthermore fired a great chance well over from six yards, and headed straight at Gomes from the rebound after De Bruyne’s free-kick became as soon as saved onto the bar.

Watford’s leisurely procedure denied them a best possible day, with a flee of three consecutive elegant sheets coming to an stay.

But they’re the truth is 16 games away from an unbeaten Premier League season, no subject Guardiola’s insistence this might perhaps perhaps no longer happen.

The one issue became as soon as enticing-help Kyle Walker walking off holding his groin at the final whistle, and Guardiola acknowledged the membership would must « overview it out ».

Watford struggles continue

Watford’s decline this season coincided with Everton sacking Ronald Koeman. The Toffees wanted Marco Silva to succeed the Dutchman, however the Hornets refused to let him scurry.

And since Koeman’s departure, Watford own handiest taken 10 sides from 13 games.

A seek the advice of with to Manchester Metropolis became as soon as doubtlessly no longer one they could own anticipated to rep one thing from, however they were typically out of the game within 38 seconds.

Watford had handiest touched the ball as soon as – when Richarlison became as soon as tackled by Silva – by the level Trusty tapped dwelling.

They were well beaten by the level Grey, who earlier compelled a set other than Ederson, became as soon as in a blueprint to flip dwelling Carrillo’s immoral.

They did rally after the procedure, however even basically the most optimistic Watford fans would own identified it became as soon as a comfort and no longer the start of a comeback.

Silva’s undesirable describe – match stats

• Metropolis own obtained their previous eight suits against Watford in all competitions, doing so by an mixture fetch of 27-four.
• Since he took price of his first away Premier League match on 22 January, Silva has misplaced more such games than any various supervisor (13).
• Trusty’s procedure became as soon as Metropolis’s 1/Three-fastest procedure in Premier League history, within the help of Jesus Navas against Spurs in November 2013 (13 seconds) and Geovanni against Wigan in December 2007 (29 seconds).
• Below Guardiola, handiest Aguero (Forty 9) has scored more Metropolis targets in all competitions than Trusty (28).
• Aguero has handiest scored more targets against Newcastle (11) in all competitions for Metropolis than he has against Watford (10).
• Grey’s first five Premier League targets were scored in dwelling games – his seven targets since then own all been scored away from dwelling.

Man of the match – Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester Metropolis)

‘We were too soft’ – supervisor reaction

Watford boss Marco Silva: « We did all the pieces in a special methodology to how we ready. We were too soft within the first 20 minutes.

« Too considerable admire and a few nerves. I told them to compete here. The first thing we want to raise out is no longer be shy or anxious.

« We had probabilities. The final 20 minutes we were better. We desire to compete for your total ninety minutes.

« Congratulations to Manchester Metropolis, what they’re doing is unbelievable. Pep Guardiola is exhibiting he can elevate out his philosophy within the Premier League. »

Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola: « [The Palace game] became as soon as the first time we dropped sides in 19 games and likewise you noticed the reaction within the first quarter-hour.

« Within the 2nd half of when lets own been more tired and complacent by the consequence, we were fully the opposite. We played an out of this world efficiency and we scored one other procedure and lets own scored more.

« Our fans were a little of bit tranquil attributable to doubtless they were freezing and doubtless attributable to it’s our fans and the methodology we insist our happiness however I have faith our team confirmed tons of factual issues as of late so it methodology plenty for us. »

What’s next?

Neither side are in Premier League action for per week and a half of.

Manchester Metropolis host Burnley on Saturday (15:00 GMT) within the FA Cup 1/Three spherical and are then at dwelling to Bristol Metropolis within the Carabao Cup next Tuesday (19:Forty five GMT).

Watford face Bristol Metropolis next – within the FA Cup on Saturday.