City were dominant and two clinical counter-attacks led to Kelechi Iheanacho and Raheem Sterling tap-ins.
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Belgium worldwide De Bruyne steered an inventive low strike underneath the jumping wall to open the scoring 15 minutes into the match at the Etihad Stadium, where Iheanacho, Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan also netted to put the result beyond doubt. The match witnessed Everton vice-captain and midfielder Gareth Barry celebrating his 600th league appearance with a goal, which set the tone for their fourth successive win.
In fact, that run turned into 11 straight wins as Barcelona recovered from their sluggish start to claim La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. Ronald Koeman’s side concede the first goal the visitors thanks to a controversial own goal involving goal-keeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Arsenal on their part beat Hull City 4-1, in a match watched by 22,536 people that saw Chilean Alexis Sanchez miss a penalty but record a brace away at KCOM Stadium.
But the City manager, who is taking a hands on approach to the club’s medical department this season, is hopeful the Argentine has overcome his fitness issues.
Hull’s Robert Snodgrass pulled a goal back from the penalty spot, but Sanchez calmed any jitters in the Arsenal ranks when he rifled high into the net and Granit Xhaka rounded off the scoring with bullet finish from distance in stoppage time.
Seamus Coleman made it 2-1 on 41 minutes with a well-taken individual goal before Romelu Lukaku, who scored a hat-trick in the win over Sunderland last time out, was credited with the final touch from Yannick Bolasie’s cross in first-half stoppage time. “He makes everything. Without the ball, he is a fighter; and with the ball, it is clear what he can do”, Guardiola was quoted as saying by Daily Mail Online. Eight games, eight wins, 25 goals for and four against. We need that humble attitude.
He scored a pair of headers either side of half-time, nodding in a Christian Fuchs free-kick in first-half injury time and then heading home from strike partner Jamie Vardy’s flick.
On 78 minutes, Burnley defender Ben Mee diverted a cross from Mahrez into his own net. “He is very, very good this season”, said the former England striker.
Sanchez put Arsenal ahead after 17 minutes, deflecting the ball home after a Theo Walcott shot was pushed into the path of Alex Iwobi, before the hosts had Jake Livermore sent off for handball. “He was not here for the last three days”.
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Salomon Rondon and James McClean scored the others and though Michail Antonio and Manuel Lanzini pulled two goals back in quick succession, it was too little too late.
