 | « Back to article | Print this article |
The Argentine scores a hat-trick to become the highest foreign goal scorer in the Premier League on Sunday. Also, in bagging a 12th Premier League hat-trick he surpassed the 11 of Alan Shearer with whom he had shared the record.
Sergio Aguero became the most prolific foreign goal scorer in Premier League history with a record-breaking hat-trick as Manchester City thrashed Aston Villa 6-1 to reclaim second place on Sunday.
The Argentine striker struck the third, fifth and sixth goals as City ran riot at Villa Park, taking his league tally to 177, two more than Frenchman Thierry Henry managed for Arsenal and joint-fourth on the all-time list alongside Frank Lampard.
Slick City's resounding victory, in which Riyad Mahrez also scored twice and Gabriel Jesus once, meant they moved above Leicester City and trimmed Liverpool's lead to 14 points, although Liverpool have played a game less.
While Liverpool look uncatchable, City displayed the kind of devastating attacking football that makes them, on their day, the most eye-pleasing team in England.
It was also a day for the 31-year-old Aguero, who signed for City in 2011, to confirm his status as one of the best imports ever to play in England's top flight.
In bagging a 12th Premier League hat-trick he surpassed the 11 of Alan Shearer with whom he had shared the record.
"Aguero is a legend and the legend rose tonight," City manager Pep Guardiola said. "I think he is one of the most incredible players I've seen in this league.
"The team is proud. We congratulated him in the locker room because to score this amount of goals and hat-tricks means you have done, for many years, a lot of good things. He has been consistent for many, many years."
While the day belonged to Aguero, it was Mahrez who put City in complete control with the opening two goals.
His dribble and shot caught out Villa keeper Orjan Nyland at his near post after 18 minutes and the Algerian struck again from close range six minutes later after Villa debutant Danny Drinkwater was caught in possession.
With Villa ripe for the picking Aguero got in on the action in the 28th minute when he was given far too much time to smash a shot that flew through the hands of Nyland.
It was 4-0 on the stroke of halftime when Kevin De Bruyne advanced down the right and delivered a superb pass that took out Villa's defence, allowing Jesus to tap in.
Villa had dropped into the relegation zone before kickoff after Watford's win at Bournemouth and their afternoon was to get worse in the second half.
A razor-sharp Aguero moved clear of Henry when he danced across the area to score right-footed in the 58th minute and he continued to torment a sorry home side by ramming home his third after 81 minutes.
Villa, who have fallen to third from bottom, did not manage a shot on target until they were awarded a stoppage-time penalty after lkay Gundogan tripped Trezeguet.
Anwar El Ghazi tucked it away with the last kick of the game but it barely raised a smile.
"It was a chastening experience," Villa manager Dean Smith said.
"We know they are a top class team but some of the goals we have given away were dreadful... We are embarrassed by some of the goals we have conceded today."
Watford out of bottom three after thrashing Bournemouth
Watford moved out of the relegation zone as their stunning revival under new manager Nigel Pearson continued with a 3-0 victory at south coast strugglers Bournemouth on Sunday.
Abdoulaye Doucoure's goal shortly before halftime gave Watford the lead and Troy Deeney smashed in their second midway through the second half.
Bournemouth offered little by way of a response and substitute Roberto Pereyra completed the rout in stoppage time.
The win, Watford's fourth in the six games since Pearson took charge with them bottom of the table, lifted them to 17th place, ahead of Aston Villa who play Manchester City later.
Pearson, who inspired Leicester's escape from relegation in 2014-15, has collected 13 points from his six matches at the helm, five more than his predecessors Javi Gracia and Quique Sanchez Flores, both sacked this season, managed between them.
"He has stripped it back to basics," Watford captain Deeney said. "I don't want to be too simplistic because that doesn't do him enough credit. He puts demands on the players and the players have accepted those demands."
While Watford, who won only one of their opening 17 league games and were six points adrift at the bottom heading into Christmas, are on the up, Bournemouth's hopes of a sixth successive season of top-flight football are sinking.
Eddie Howe's side looked short on confidence as they slipped to their third successive defeat without scoring a goal.
They are second bottom with 20 points from 22 games having been as high as seventh in early November.
Howe has won plaudits for the passing style Bournemouth have used to punch above their weight in the top flight, but there are signs that it is becoming their Achilles heel.
They were often guilty of careless passing as they tried to play out from defence and were lucky not to be punished early on when Gerard Deulofeu forced a smart save from keeper Mark Travers, making his first Premier League start.
Bournemouth did not learn their lesson and when Travers played a loose pass out in the 42nd minute, Watford stole the ball and Ismaila Sarr's cross fell to Doucoure to finish well.
Sarr was involved again for Watford's second in the 65th minute when his cross was diverted to Deeney who thumped a first-time shot past Travers.
Deeney could have added to his tally as Bournemouth wilted and Pereyra's fine finish rounded off a great day for Watford.
Since beating Manchester United on Nov. 2, Bournemouth have taken four points from their last 11 matches and unless Howe can stop the rot they are heading for relegation.
"The manager always has to take responsibility when things aren't going well," Howe said. "Instilling confidence back to the players is my job."
