Heads up for the City fans, Sergio Aguero starts on bench today after his road accident – he is just one goal away to equalise Manchester City’s all-time goal scorer record (177 goals), currently held by Eric Brook.
Kevin De Bruyne will make his 100th City appearance this afternoon!
Here are the Starting XI
Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Stones, Delph, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva (c), Sterling, Sane, Jesus
Subs: Bravo, Bernardo, Aguero, Yaya Toure, Danilo, Mangala, Gundogan
Subs: Grant; Berahino, Afellay, Martins Indi, Adam, Crouch, Ramadan.
Inside the changing room! #cityvstoke pic.twitter.com/dbdoHfSaAk
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 14, 2017
First Half
The Blues started brightly , zipping the ball around and getting at Stoke. Good intensity early in this game.
In the first half you could see Sterling and De Bruyne linking up. Early chance for Manchester City and Leroy Sane, but he fire a shot way over the top of the bar. Manchester City opened the scoring in sixteen minute with Gabriel Jesus scores for City.
Stoke are really struggling to keep the Cityzens quelled down that side. Seconds had passed after Jesus opener before KDB split the Stoke defence wide open again with a superb reverse pass to Sane, who crossed for Sterling and it’s an easy finish.
20′ : Man City 2 – 0 Stoke City
It’s a third! three goals in under thirty-minutes. It’s David Silva – Sane crossed for Sterling, who passed it back for Silva. A rare attack from Stoke side – Kurt Zouma lashing a shot wide from distance.
34′ : City’s Possesion – 82 per cent
Stoke City shot stopper Jack Butland struggles to clear a ball away under pressure. The host defence didn’t show themselves in the best of light.
44′ Stoke have a goal – Mame Diouf pulls a goal back for his side, his shot deflecting off Delph and over Ederson.
Stoke’s last line of defence – alone handling his side. Brilliant saves from Butland. Butland now to deny De Bruyne as Sane lays the ball off to De Bruyne and the shot destined to find the back of the net but Butland’s diving hand palms it behind for a corner.
Half Time : Man City 3 -1 Stoke City
HALF TIME | @gabrieljesus33, @sterling7 and @21LVA put City up by three goals but a late Stoke strike got one back. #cityvstoke
🔵 3-1 🔴 pic.twitter.com/w8Jope5Yx9
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 14, 2017
Second Half
No changes for home side. Change for Stoke sees Kevin Wimmer taken off and replaced by Bruno Martins Indi. Ibrahim Afellay introduced, with Jese Rodriguez taken off.
Game on! Goal for the host – it’s an own-goal from Kyle Walker. Credit to Mark Hughes side for not giving up.
Thomas Edwards done reasonably well on his debut. There was pause in play as Edwards receives treatment and final substitution of the game for Stoke. Ramadan replacing Edwards.
Another goal for Guardiola side – an assist from ‘king of assist’ De Bruyne right onto the foot of Jesus – an excellent left-foot finish too. City are back in control.
55′ : Manchester City 4-2 Stoke City
Minutes passed and a brilliant goal from Fernandinho. Another brilliant assist from Kevin De bruyne and he gets his second assist on his 100th appearance for Manchester City and Sane scores City’s sixth.
61′ : Manchester City 6-2 Stoke City
Two substitution changes for home side. Bernardo Silva comes on for Gabriel Jesus. Standing ovation for Kevin De Bruyne who has been sensational on his 100th appearance for City. Ilkay Gundogan on in his place.
De bruyne has more assists in one game than most of us in entire career 😂😂😂 too good
— Benjamin Mendy (@benmendy23) October 14, 2017
Chance for Cameron smashing wide of Ederson’s post.
Final change for City as Yaya Toure replaces Fernandinho. Cityzens are serenading him, Yaya, Yaya Toure!
78′ Bernardo with his first City goal – Sterling touches the ball across to the Bernado and here’s the seventh for Man City.
Break in play here with Kyle Walker down injured following a challenge by Mame Diouf.
David almost adds eight – but his curling effort bounces just wide! Three minutes of added time as De Bruyne announced as Man-of-the-match.
If there were any other man at the last line of defence other than Butland, it would have been nine or ten in the net.
Full Time : Manchester City 7-2 Stoke City
Manchester City were fantastic in the game. Raheem Sterling another City’s top performers from today, a goal and two assists. 29 goals scored by City this season in their previous seven league matches.
Who said what?
Gabriel Jesus: We all feel lucky to have him (De Bruyne) in our team. We have been working really hard and face every game to win and score lots of goals. We are playing and I think the fans are enjoying it!
Stoke City on Twitter: Kevin De Bruyne gets the ManCity man of the match.
Sometimes, you have to hold your hand up and appreciate the opposition. (7-2)
Pep Guardiola: We can always do better but I cannot deny that today was the best performance since I arrived here.
Kevin De Bruyne is a guy that is so dynamic and can control the game. He is a big talent and made a good performance today!
I am here to win, I am not here to entertain.
This is the way we want to play, our confidence is high. Everybody believes we are going to win. We create many chances.
I encourage the fans to come on Tuesday against Napoli because it will be an amazing game. Two teams with similar styles.
We know each other more, I know my players more, the league more and the other teams more.
Mark Hughes: Kevin De Bruyne is a level above anybody else in the Premier League in my view.
Some of their goals we just couldn’t do anything about because of the world class quality players City have.
What’s next?
City host Napoli on Tuesday evening in the third Champions League Group F.
