Manchester City Destroys Chelsea; Agüero Rings Up Another Hatter

Who in their right mind doesn't bring their A-game against Manchester City?

Especially when the Citizens need a victory to leapfrog Liverpool and reclaim the Premiership's top spot.

But that'd be Maurizio Sarri's Chelsea, looking every bit the deer-in-headlinghts, surrendering 4 goals in 25 minutes on their way to a 6-0 dismantling that, frankly, wasn't even that close.

 

Back in the day, baskeball's Harlem Globetrotters needed a foil to be the butt of their jokes and hijinks.

Enter the Washington Generals:

 

Maybe the comparison's harsh, because the Generals were obviously built to lose.

But with Chelsea's budget and the rates they charge at Stamford Bridge, the only saving grace for their display against City is that it entertained fans who pay through the nose at the Etihad.

This massacre started in the 4th minute when Bernardo Silva had his cross deflected and ended up with Raheem Sterling, who ripped it home past Kepa Arrizabalaga:

 

Only nine minutes later, Oleksandr Zinchenko assisted none other than Sergio Agüero, who unleashed a rocket straight to Kepa's top corner from distance.

Superb goal from the Argentine striker:

 

Was it too early for Chelsea to be shell shocked?

Of course, that would beg the question as to whether they even rose to the level of being shell shocked.

 

At the 19-minute mark, the Argentine put his name in the ledger yet again, capitalizing on a Ross Barkley mistake on a header that was supposed to be a pass to Kepa.

Agüero intercepted and drilled it into the bottom corner from close-range:

 

The onslaught continued five minutes later.

In the 24th, City made it four as Sterling dished to Agüero, who attempted from close-range, but Antonio Rudiger cleared it. However, the rebound landed with İlkay Gündoğan at the edge of the box.

Dude fired home a first-time effort:

 

Sarri may as well have been chain-smoking on the touchline instead of hiding it in the ground's bowls.

Or something.

 

After City's fourth goal, Chelsea actually looked like they tried to mount a reaction, but dudes could barely threaten Ederson.

Their offensive highlight was making it to the locker room at the break.

As if the Citizens didn't realize it already, goal difference could be a factor in this year's Premiership title scramble. So, as the second half arrived, they had no intention of taking their foot off the gas.

 

In the 55th, as if City needed any more help finding twine, Sterling was brought down inside the box by Cesar Azpilicueta.

Agüero stepped up and completed his hat-trick:

 

There was still time for more, so in the 80th, substitute David Silva triggered Zinchenko down the left side.

Dude low-crossed it to an amazingly unmarked Sterling.

Butter:

 

It's an understatement to say the Blues are left with questions. So many questions.

Meanwhile, if Liverpool are to overtake City, it won't be due to goal difference:

Unless maybe they can re-arrange their schedule to play Huddersfield five times.

Or Chelsea.