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Manchester City hit hateful 8 past Watford after Norwich nightmare

Matt McNulty - Manchester City / Manchester City FC / Getty

Wrong place, wrong time.

Manchester City were desperate to release some frustration after the previous week's 3-2 defeat to Norwich City, and Watford just happened to get in their way.

Bernardo Silva scored a hat-trick as Pep Guardiola's outfit eviscerated the hapless Hornets by an 8-0 scoreline Saturday. City notched five of their goals in the opening 18 minutes of the match to fashion the fastest 5-0 lead in Premier League history.

Bernardo Silva completed his treble after an hour, while David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Riyad Mahrez, Nicolas Otamendi, and the phenomenal Kevin De Bruyne also weighed in with goals.

Since the Norwich setback, the reigning English champions scored three times in Wednesday's Champions League trip to Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk and a further eight in Saturday's visit from Watford.

Quique Sanchez Flores, meanwhile, has his work cut out. The Spaniard marked his return to the Watford helm with an encouraging 2-2 comeback draw against Arsenal last week, but his side crumbled against City.

Dimitri Foulquier was embarrassingly substituted 33 minutes into his Hornets debut after touching the ball only nine times and completing two passes, while central defenders Adrian Mariappa and Craig Dawson managed one tackle between them.

Watford are bottom of the Premier League with two points from six matches.

"As a 'keeper coming to City and Liverpool, if you let five in in 20 minutes you fear the worst, you think cricket scores," Watford's Ben Foster told Sky Sports after the rout. "They are without a doubt the best team I have ever played against. We were poor, didn't lay a glove on them, but at times it was breathtaking watching them.

"You come away to City and I'm not joking, you come here and think if you keep it to two or three - they are so good. Them and Liverpool are (at) a different level."

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