Our emphatic victory over the Cherries means Pep Guardiola’s side have gone the whole of 2017 unbeaten at the Etihad Stadium in all competitions and have become the first English team to score 100 top-flight goals in a calendar year since Liverpool’s 106 back in 1982.
Not only did the result take our Premier League winning streak to a staggering 17, but it also extended our lead at the summit of the Premier League table to 14!
Oh, and if that wasn’t enough – Sergio Aguero secured his 100th (and 101st) goal at the home ground, so it’s no surprise that the club have made the back pages today…
First we start with the Manchester Evening News, as the newspaper has explained why our win over Bournemouth was a “perfect example of how dominant this team have become.”
Simon Bajkowski wrote: “In some respects, Pep Guardiola is ripping up how Premier League titles are won.
“Seemingly gone are the heydays of Sir Alex Ferguson or Jose Mourinho when title contenders aim for a fast start, or aim to be in or around the top at Christmas, or pick and choose which teams they can afford not to take on and still get enough points.
“Manchester City are reframing the way Premier League title tilts are thought of - and potentially attempted in future - with every win they pick up.
“Strategies that teams built their charges around are now simply becoming byproducts of this team’s dominance, and the Etihad has quietly become a fortress in 2017.
“From 26 games in all competitions, they have won 21, drawn 5 and lost none.
“The 4-0 demolition of Bournemouth was a perfect example of how dominant this team have become.
“They starved Eddie Howe’s team of possession and pounced when the visitors dared to try and fight back.
“Once again, when one route to goal was cut off another emerged and the game ended about 40 minutes later than the Cherries would have wanted.
“As the game was waltzing to a close, Blues in the ground rose as one to applaud and cheer Guardiola and his team.
“Where last year’s title challenge fell apart with damaging draws at home, the last few months have seen dramatic late winners - surged on by the crowd - to keep the momentum going and that will carry into the Watford game in the New Year whatever the last two results of 2017.
“You can’t say City’s campaign has been built on their home form when their record away from home is even better, but such marked improvement between years has undoubtedly lifted the Blues onto another level and one that nobody else looks close to reaching.”
Next up, ESPN have ‘graded’ City’s recent performance and reflected on the season so far after a magnificent start to the campaign.
“A record-breaking 17 successive victories, the best ever start to an English season, 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League and qualification for the Champions League round-of-16 by finishing top of the group, there is nothing to quibble about over City’s first half of the campaign,” Johnathan Smith wrote on the ESPN website.
“Guardiola went into the season under plenty of pressure after a difficult first 12 months in England and a heavy spend in the summer with close to £200 million splashed out on new arrivals.
“But his side have grown in confidence with every passing game and Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, John Stones, Leroy Sane and Nicolas Otamendi have seen their games improve spectacularly.
“Opponents have tried everything to stop City from high pressing to ultra-deep defending and all have been picked off with the exception of Everton, who held out for a point against 10 men.
“City’s closest rivals Chelsea and Manchester United have already beaten on their home grounds -- each by a single goal although Guardiola’s side controlled both games. Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal, who were seen as possible title rivals, all went to the Etihad and all were emphatically beaten.”
BBC correspondent Phil McNulty shared his glowing views on City in his half-term Premier League report and rated the club 9/10 in the rankings.
“This has been the season Manchester City’s owners were dreaming about when they finally put Pep Guardiola in place at Etihad Stadium,” McNulty wrote on the BBC Sport website.
“Their magnificent play has been inspired by the world-class pair of Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva, the youthful brilliance of Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus, and the flourishing of Raheem Sterling.
“Some of the football produced has been close to perfection - the Premier League’s untouchables and looking like Champions League favourites.“The questions now are: How many records can they break? And how many points will they win the title by?”
Finally, Pep has heaped praise on Aguero for reaching yet another milestone this season.
The boss spoke to Sky Sports after the game, and said: “Sergio is a special player. A legend. And I’m so happy when he plays good and scores goal.
“So another good performance. We were ready mentally again. But in football, always you can improve. Individually and collectively. It’s not a target to be perfect - that doesn’t exist in the world. Always you can improve. We know that.
“But of course we’re so happy for the victory, 17 games in a row. Just now it’s a good, merry Christmas.”
That’s all for your Christmas Eve media round-up!
