Pep Guardiola’s side recorded our biggest-ever Premier League win against the Hornets and the press have duly paid tribute to the performance.
It was a devastating display and one to savour, so let’s take a look at how the watching journalists saw the action…
Opinion
ESPN: City’s 8-0 win over Watford proves the exceptional is becoming the norm at the Etihad
Writes Mark Ogden: “This was an emphatic dismantling of a Watford side still haunted by the memories of last season’s 6-0 FA Cup final mauling at the hands of City, yet it was by no means an exceptional performance by the reigning champions.
“That is the scary thing about this City team: What would be exceptional for everyone else is now becoming the norm at the Etihad.
“And the painful truth for Watford is that, in the end, they got off lightly with an 8-0 defeat. City’s winning margin could, and should, have been well into double figures.”
BBC: Pep Guardiola’s side silence critics in emphatic style
Chris Bevan: “Even without Raheem Sterling, who was rested and left on the bench after previously playing every minute of the season, City were in unstoppable mood.
“With Kevin de Bruyne pulling the strings, Bernardo Silva and David Silva turning on the style and Sergio Aguero finding space behind the Watford defence, more chances and goals followed.
“In truth, City should have ended up with more than eight given the barrage they launched on the Watford goal - it was easy to lose count of the opportunities they spurned, but Aguero missed the target when clean through and hit the post with a header, while Riyad Mahrez also nodded against the woodwork.”
Independent: Bernardo Silva scores hat-trick in eight-goal thrashing as Hornets ripped apart
Writes Mark Critchley: “If defeats like that at Carrow Road last weekend are the exception, then this is the rule. Manchester City returned to winning ways domestically with a total evisceration of Watford, scoring eight unanswered goals to post their biggest-ever Premier League victory.
“City fell short of equalling the league-wide record - Manchester United’s 9-0 thrashing over Ipswich Town in 1995 - but not through want of trying. This was a remorseless, relentless performance, right from scoring their first after only 52 seconds until their last five minutes from time.
“Bernardo Silva ended with a hat-trick - appearing visibly embarrassed to scuff his third at close-range - but Kevin de Bruyne was the outstanding performer. The Belgian assisted twice, had a hand in another two and scored the last of the eight with a strike as emphatic as the final scoreline.”
