Manchester City made it four from four on the weekend to start the new season in perfect fashion.
Manuel Pellegrini's side defeated a gritty Watford team 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium to notch their 10th straight Premier League victory, dating back to last season.
Raheem Sterling scored his first competitive goal for his new cub when side-footing home Bacary Sagna's right-wing cross in the 47th minute before Fernandinho powered home David Silva's pass from an angle less than 10 minutes later.
It was a fairly strong performance from City, who are three points clear at the top of the table, while the promoted Hornets can hold their heads high despite sitting 17th having drawn on three occasions.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Manchester City: 2 (Raheem Sterling 47', Fernandinho 56')
Watford: 0
Etihad Stadium, Manchester - 53,218
Debuts - MCI: Kelechi Iheanacho (club and league)
WAT - Almen Abdi (first league start)
TALKING POINTS
- Have City rightfully earned their new Premier League favouritism? Are they the early benchmark?
- Watford have been competitive but can they find the goals necessary to keep them above the bottom three?
WHAT'S NEXT?
City head to Crystal Palace after the international break on September 12 as Watford get set to host high-flying Swansea on the same day.
TWITTER INSIGHT
Good to get on score sheet and get another 3 points , another massive team performance!!!! pic.twitter.com/t95QichXg6
— Raheem Sterling (@sterling7) August 29, 2015100% #MCFC@MCFCpic.twitter.com/eUmDatngt5
— Fernandinho (@fernandinho) August 29, 2015REACTION: "We Just Have To Say Thank You For The Support" - Behrami on the #watfordfc fans http://t.co/F9LwQvFMBMpic.twitter.com/Nhio9MMYyV
— Watford FC (@WatfordFC) August 29, 2015
QUOTES CORNER
Man City's Pellegrini on summer signing Sterling:
"The good thing of Sterling is that he is not just about scoring goals, he works a lot during the whole game. There are a lot of reasons why we got him and he is demonstrating that he is not (just) an expensive player, but a good player."
Watfordboss Flores on his side's performance against City:
"For the future we will learn from this kind of experience. It is very difficult to play against City in these conditions."
TEAM LEADERS
MAN CITY
Goals - Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho 2
Assists - David Silva 4
Clean sheets - Joe Hart 4
Yellow cards - Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala, Fernandinho 2
WATFORD
Goals - Miguel Layun, Odion Ighalo 1
Assists - Troy Deeney 1
Clean sheets - Heurelho Gomes 2
Yellow cards - Allan Nyom 2
