Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero, who was struggling since the start of the 2015/16 season, scored five goals against Newcastle United at the Etihad stadium.
Advertisement
The visitors, without a win so far, looked the better team for much of the first half but imploded as Aguero burst into life with goals after 42, 49, 50, 60 and 62 minutes.
Andy Cole scored his five in Manchester United’s 9-0 win over Ipswich in 1995, Alan Shearer in 1999 in Newcastle’s 8-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday, Jermian Defoe in 2009 in Tottenham’s 9-1 victory over Wigan and Dimitar Berbatov in 2010 in Manchester United’s 7-1 victory over Blackburn. His first three completed a flawless hat-trick-left-foot, right-foot and header.
In fairness to Aguero the kick to his knee that he took from Scott Dann away to Crystal Palace may have affected him more than was admitted.
“Kun always makes important contributions in competitions”.
Aguero said: “I am very happy”.
Aguero, who joined the Sky Blues for £38m from Atletico Madrid in 2011, has finished as their top goalscorer in three of his four seasons in England.
The manager said: “He deserves it. For different reasons in the last few games he missed important chances but he was calm”.
At the age of 27, Pellegrini believes the improvement in Aguero’s lifestyle has taken him to another level. They should have doubled their lead but a tap in for the Serbian was wrongly ruled offside, before the 21-year-old had a one-on-one brilliantly saved by the toe-end of Joe Hart. Kevin de Bruyne scored the other. His overall City tally now stands at 115 goals.
Another individual five-goal feast for the Old Trafford fans as the Bulgarian bagged five in United’s 7-1 thrashing of Blackburn in November 2010.
There was such a variety too, included the headed equaliser and a predatory tap in for his fifth, yet it was his third that provided most cheer.
Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle netted in the second half to give Southampton its first win at Chelsea since 2002.
“But in the second half we were undone by our mistakes and the world-class finishing of Aguero”.
City needed Aguero’s brilliance after falling behind to a first Newcastle goal for £13m summer signing Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Steve McClaren, Assistant Manager claimed that they could have had a 3-0 lead against City. “I think it was four games without scoring any goals in the Premier League so I am really pleased about my performance today”.
And with Aguero having found form in spectacular fashion, they will now feel confident of going on another run of positive results and reasserting the dominance they showed in the opening weeks of the season.
Advertisement
Game 10 is the derby against Sunderland – the one team in the Premier League who are arguably more incompetent than they are.
