Firing from all cylinders and playing with an intensity fueled by an indomitable resolve and renewed sparkle of old with impressive attacking display, Manchester City’s players easily found the extra gear to power themselves to the top of the Premier League for the first time this season. So much so that even the opposition were halted dead in their tracks to stare in utter disbelief at the exploits of their fiery rivals.
In what could well be a farcical exhibit for VAR’s ever-lengthening highlights reel on controversial calls, West Bromwich Albion’s defenders were virtually rooted to the ground as they looked on in bewilderment as City’s Joao Cancelo curled a humdinger of a shot into the top corner for the second of City’s goals in a 5-0 victory on Tuesday.
Although the assistant referee had raised the flag for offside moments earlier, City’s marauders, unlike their rivals’ stunned defenders, played on as Bernardo Silva collected the ball and fed Cancelo, who in the absence of challengers, picked his ideal spot from the edge of the area to execute his brilliant shot.
The subsequent VAR review showed Silva was actually onside and the goal was declared legitimate.
On the evidence of this game and those of the last couple of months, it is becoming pretty clear that Pep Guardiola’s team is going to be hard to stop.
This latest win makes it seven straight wins in the league — and 11 in all competitions — for City in an ominous run of results, becoming the ninth side to finish a day in first place this season. From the look of things, even if Manchester United reclaims the lead on Wednesday by beating Sheffield United, City looks to be the team to beat.
West Ham climbed to fourth place by winning 3-2 at Crystal Palace, while struggling Newcastle slumped to a 2-1 home loss to Leeds.
Arsenal avenged a defeat to Southampton in the FA Cup at the weekend by beating the Saints 3-1 in the league.