CITY 4 BRIGHTON 0
City wasted no time taking command against the Seagulls.
The last home game against Spurs saw just two goals converted from 30 shots – this game saw the Blues take the lead with the first shot of the game and just 68 seconds on the clock.
David Silva, inevitably, was the creator, as he darted in behind the Brighton defence before picking out De Bruyne with a low cross and the Belgian made no mistake from eight yards.
Sergio Aguero and De Bruyne would both see shots fizz inches wide before 20 minutes had been played, but the visitors’ clever tactics with and without the ball made for a lively contest.
Fast and direct with in possession, the pattern was reversed without to a compact unit attempting to crowd out City’s creativity around the box.
Silva missed a sitter on 30 minutes after good work by Raheem Sterling as the Blues looked to give themselves breathing space but the Spaniard, for once, got his angle wrong as he skewed a shot past the post from a couple of yards out.
Not long after, Aymeric Laporte was stretchered off with a knee injury following a clash with Adam Webster and was replaced by Fernandinho.
City responded well to the blow and two minutes before the break, the lead was doubled.
Riyad Mahrez played a clever back-heel to De Bruyne who moved into the box, found Aguero and after working himself a couple of yards of space, the Argentine thumped home his fourth of the season.
Aguero added a third after the break and assisted Bernardo as the Blues ran out 4-0 winners.
