EPL

Swansea City 1 Manchester City 3: Aguero’s brace helps leader maintain 100% record

Pep Guardiola’s 100% win record at Manchester City has been stretched to 10 games in all competitions following a 3-1 victory over Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium in the Premier League this afternoon.

Sergio Aguero marked his return from a three-match ban with a goal in the ninth minute and a penalty kick in the 65th, while Raheem Sterling also got on the scoresheet.

However, it was not the most comfortable of wins as Swansea held their opponents for over an hour following Fernando Llorente’s first-half equaliser.

Francesco Guidolin’s side showed signs of intent early on when Wayne Routledge tried to direct a header towards goal, but it was a weak attempt.

Gylfi Sigurdsson, who scored a consolation goal in the midweek EFL Cup defeat to City, tried to pull the strings for his side, and he got the ball in the back of the net at the beginning of the game but it was ruled out for a foul on David Silva by Jack Cork.

Despite Swansea starting brightly, it was City who took the lead as Aguero got on the end of Bacary Sagna‘s low cross before smashing it into the back of the net. It was the Argentine’s 10th goal of the season, his 27th Premier League strike and his first ever goal at the Liberty Stadium.

City could not celebrate for long, though, as four minutes later Llorente scored his first goal for the Swans with a volley after meeting Sigurdsson’s pass in the final third.

It was end to end at times, and Sterling showed promise when he got in behind Jordi Amat to get on the end of Silva’s ball over the top, but the England international’s first touch was poor and goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianksi snuffed out the move.

Both sides had penalty claims denied – referee Neil Swarbrick did not feel that Angel Rangel‘s touch on Sterling in the box was enough for a spot kick, while Fernandinho‘s block on Mike van der Hoorn also went unpunished.

The Swansea defender came close to nudging the Welsh outfit ahead with a header, but it rose over the crossbar, while Kevin De Bruyne‘s shot from the edge of the box drifted just wide of the post.

Aleksandar Kolarov had an opportunity to tap the ball home from three yards out after Nicolas Otamendiheaded it on for the full-back off De Bruyne’s free kick, but Van der Hoorn and Fabianski scrambled clear.

After the break, Swansea showed no sign of slowing up as Leroy Fer burst through his own half to set up Routledge, who played a one-two with Sigurdsson.

The midfielder managed to get a cross into the box, but Llorente, who was waiting at the back post, failed to reach it as the ball was overhit.

At the other end, John Stones had an opportunity to score when Silva’s corner kick dropped into the box, but some pressure from Van der Hoorn forced the City defender to send the ball wide.

Both De Bruyne and Sigurdsson missed chances in the second half, while Aguero was denied when Amat lunged in with a last-ditch bloke to prevent the striker’s seven-yard strike.

In the final 30 minutes of the match, City began to get on top as they dominated the ball, and they were given a penalty when Van der Hoorn brushed his arm across De Bruyne’s face after winning the ball.

Aguero stepped up to take it and made no mistake as he sent the ball down the middle to claim his 11th goal in all competitions this season.

City peppered Swansea’s goal and they made sure that the damage was done from a counter-attack with 12 minutes left on the clock.

Sterling led the move as he went one on one with Kyle Naughton before slotting the ball underneath Fabianski and wrapping up the victory.

Swansea’s winless run in the top flight has extended to five games.

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