Manchester City came from behind to demolish Newcastle United 6-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Sergio Aguero was the star of the show, scoring a remarkable five goals to become just the fifth player in Premier League history to achieve the feat.
It was the Magpies that managed to open the scoring through summer signing Aleksandar Mitrovic who headed home Georginio Wijnaldum's clever cross with the outside of his right foot in the 18th minute to notch his first goal for the club.
But that was the only highlight for Steve McClaren's side as Aguero took over with with a handful of goals in 20 scintillating minutes.
The first came in the 42nd minute when he headed home Fernandinho's squared ball from close range before edging City ahead four minutes into the second half when he danced around Fabricio Coloccini before firing past Tim Krul from the edge of the area with his left, with help from a Yoann Gouffran deflection.
The Argentine completed his hat-trick a minute later with a delightful chip over Krul from a lovely Kevin De Bruyne through ball before the Belgian netted his third goal in as many Premier League starts in the 53rd minute when on the turn, he volleyed home Jesus Navas' cross from the right flank.
Auger still wasn't done and produced a fourth goal on the hour-mark with a lovely curling finish on the bounce from outside the box before helping himself to a fifth two minutes later when sliding home De Bruyne's cut-back across the six-yard box.
It was a commanding display from City who returned to the top of the league table on 18 points while Newcastle dropped to bottom spot with a record of just three draws from their eight fixtures.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Manchester City: 6 (Sergio Aguero 42'/49'/50'/60'/62', Kevin De Bruyne 53')
Newcastle United: 1 (Aleksandar Mitrovic 18')
Etihad Stadium, Manchester - 53,850
TALKING POINTS
- Is Aguero the best striker in the Premier League?
- Can City put their bad patch of form behind them and kick on to win another league title?
- A new low for Newcastle under McClaren. How do they turn this around?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Man City will host Bournemouth after the international break as the Toon desperately search for their first win when they welcome Norwich City to St James' Park on October 18.
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
200 - Sergio Aguero's hat-trick goal was the 200th goal in the Premier League overall this season. Delicious.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 3, 201580 - Fastest players to 80 @premierleague goals:
A Shearer 102 games
R van Nistelrooy 122
S Aguero 128
T Henry 132
L Ferdinand 133
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 3, 20155 - Aguero is the 5th PL player to score five times in one game after Cole, Shearer, Defoe & Berbatov. No-one has ever scored 6. Challenge.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 3, 20151 - Newcastle have won only one of their last 19 Premier League games. Treacle.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 3, 2015
TWITTER INSIGHT
Very happy about the five goals and the victory. Thank you all for the encouragement and support. C'mon, City!
— Sergio Kun Aguero (@aguerosergiokun) October 3, 2015Perfect teamperformance yesterday. Worldclass @aguerosergiokun ! Thanks for the support. #MCFCpic.twitter.com/9ch06PCUsn
— Kevin De Bruyne (@DeBruyneKev) October 4, 2015QUOTES CORNER
Man City's Pellegrini on Aguero:
"I am very happy for Kun. He deserves it. He is always a player who makes a difference. To see him play at the level he played today, not only must I be happy but all the fans because he is a different player."
Newcastle boss McClaren on the result:
"We came here to win. We were bold in our 4-4-2 in the first half we really shook Man City, and scored the first goal.
"The goal before half-time just gave them a lift and in the second half we just got done by mistakes by ourselves and Aguero's world-class finishing, which he is well capable of doing to any team."
TEAM LEADERS
MAN CITY
Goals - Sergio Aguero 6
Assists - David Silva 6
Clean sheets - Joe Hart 4
Yellow cards - Eliaquim Mangala 4
NEWCASTLE
Goals - Georginio Wijnaldum 2
Assists - Five players on 1
Clean sheets - Tim Krul 1
Yellow cards - Jack Colback 4
Red cards - Daryl Janmaat, Aleksandar Mitrovic 1
