WATFORD, UNITED KINGDOM (AFP) – Bernardo Silva backed up Pep Guardiola’s declare he’s the very best participant within the Premier League proper now by scoring twice as Manchester Metropolis cruised to the highest of the Premier League with a 3-1 win at Watford.
Silva’s luxurious cushioned volley in opposition to Aston Villa in midweek earned Guardiola’s glowing reward and he produced two extra fantastic finishes to take his tally to seven targets in his final 12 Premier League video games.
“Due to Bernardo as a result of he made me not fallacious,” stated Metropolis boss Guardiola. “I do know he’s so humble, there are high gamers within the Premier League and he’s doing so effectively.”
In stark distinction to Manchester United’s 4-1 humbling at Vicarage Street a fortnight in the past that ended Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign, Metropolis just about killed the match as a contest inside 4 minutes.
Phil Foden picked out Raheem Sterling on the again put up for the only of headers to open the scoring.
Silva slotted residence from a slender angle to double the guests’ lead and produced a surprising strike into the highest nook after the break.
“The sport might have been over after quarter-hour,” added Guardiola, whose facet took benefit of Chelsea’s 3-2 defeat at West Ham to maneuver one level away from Liverpool on the high of the desk.
“An important factor is that we gained. We performed in a constant method, managed, we performed a great recreation once more.”
Guardiola additionally has a clear invoice of well being for his squad heading into the hectic festive interval as Foden and report signing Jack Grealish returned to the beginning line-up, whereas Kevin De Bruyne made his comeback from coronavirus as a second-half substitute.
Foden made a right away influence by selecting out Sterling, who was given an unimaginable quantity of house to move in his 99th Premier League objective.
A slick Metropolis transfer quickly doubled their lead as Silva fed Ilkay Gundogan and when the German’s effort was saved by Daniel Bachmann, the Portuguese worldwide adopted as much as slot in on the close to put up.
Silva made clear his want to go away Metropolis in the summertime, however the 27-year-old is again to enjoying among the greatest soccer of his profession.
Mohamed Salah’s free-scoring kind for Liverpool might deny him particular person awards come the tip of the season, however Silva can also be placing collectively his greatest goalscoring marketing campaign within the Premier League.
His second of the sport was a factor of magnificence as he turned onto Kyle Walker’s go and curled the ball excessive into Bachmann’s right-hand nook.
Metropolis have now gained seven consecutive video games with their kind trying ominously like the start of an analogous run to the 21-game profitable streak that began final December and noticed them streak in direction of the title.
However Silva warned they face a more durable problem this season from Liverpool and Chelsea.
“Liverpool and Chelsea are doing an incredible season, it’ll be robust for us and them to compete with one another,” stated Silva. “We all know the extent may be very excessive, we all know how onerous it’s to win this best league on this planet.”
Metropolis had been denied a clear sheet to spherical off a fantastic efficiency when Cucho Hernandez slotted residence on the second try after his preliminary effort got here again off the put up 16 minutes from time.
