It took last season’s Premier League Golden Boot winner just four minutes to open his account for the new season, latching onto Rodrigo‘s header to sweep into the bottom corner from eight yards.
Our number nine then doubled the lead before the interval, connecting sweetly with a Julian Alvarez layoff to smash into the net spectacularly via the crossbar.
His brace makes him only the second player in the competition’s history to score two or more goals in their team’s opening game of the season in successive years, after his double against West Ham last campaign.
Last season’s Champions League final hero Rodrigo added a third in the second period, blasting a loose ball into the corner from six yards.
CITY+ | SIGN UP TO ACCESS EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
The hosts were reduced to ten men deep into stoppage time after Anass Zaroury’s challenge on Kyle Walker.
City remained cool, calm and professional to secure three points under the floodlights in Lancashire!
View the best images from the victory via our gallery below.