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Swansea 0 Man City 4: David Silva steals show as league leaders stroll to record 15th straight win

David Silva was on sensational form in City's latest win - PA
David Silva was on sensational form in City's latest win - PA

Music again blasted out of the away dressing room, this time prior to kick-off, and Manchester City were even more tuneful out on the pitch as they danced around Swansea City to earn a record-breaking 15th successive Premier League victory.

David Silva was again the orchestrator - captaining, controlling, mesmerising and scoring twice. He was simply brilliant; a 10 out of 10 performance but for missing a chance. Even then it seems churlish not to give him full marks.

No team has ever, in top-flight English football, started a season like this and it is increasingly difficult to see any side stopping City who have the imposing air of champions-elect. The gulf between these two teams was such that it emphatically felt like top against bottom.

Against the Swans, City were serene. They could have claimed a clutch more but their tally of 52 league goals this season is already 12 more than some sides scored in the last campaign; the whole of the last campaign.

But then City will break record after record. They are already on 49 points after 17 games. Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ had 39 points at this stage. Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea of 2004-05, who hold the record points total of 95 for a Premier League season, had 40. City should hit a century.

David Silva scores Manchester City's first goal - Credit: Reuters
David Silva scores the opener Credit: Reuters

Customary service – a Silva service – was resumed by City before half an hour was up. They scored. It was a fine finish with Bernardo Silva, one of four changes made by Pep Guardiola from the Manchester derby triumph, collecting Roque Mesa’s miscued pass and teeing up an in-swinging cross for David Silva to ghost on and deftly flick the ball with the outside of his left boot past a stranded Lukasz Fabianski in goal. He, they, made it look easy.

There had already been an air or trepidation around the Liberty Stadium; could they stop City playing with their usual freedom? Could they even compete against them? It appeared ominous with the visitors' early domination. Sergio Aguero trapped Ederson’s long pass – not long ball – to him and simply worked his way past three defenders before striking a shot into the side-netting.

Then Raheem Sterling won a corner which was only half-cleared by Wilfried Bony to Fernandinho, who had cleverly pulled out to the edge of the penalty area, and his low right-foot volley was pushed away by Fabianski.

And so it continued. There was a miscued volley by Kevin de Bruyne; a mis-timed header by Aguero with the striker executing another, more deftly, from Bernardo’s cross that skimmed the top of the net before Nicolas Otamendi, at the far post, chested a cross down and blazed high over the bar.

Swansea threatened when they broke away with Jordan Ayew forcing a sharp save from Ederson with a low shot. Fabianski was called into action again shortly after as he denied Aguero and reacted quickly enough to prevent David Silva turning home the rebound as the sense of foreboding continued. It was quiet, very quiet from the home supporters.

They remained silent. City scored again. Sterling was blocked off, out wide, on the corner of the area and De Bruyne whipped in a right-foot free-kick with Aguero darting in to try and steer it home. Maybe he distracted Fabianski, maybe there was too much whip on the ball, as it took one bounce and flew into the net.

David Silva and teammates celebrate - Credit: AFP
City's players mob David Silva Credit: AFP

Swansea appeared broken. The scraps they had been feeding off became even more meagre, the pace of the game dropped and City’s control was complete. Their biggest enemy here was complacency and whether that could lead to some improbable way back for Swansea although, in fairness, Bony, against his former club was offering a flickering resistance.

As the half-time whistle went there was little reaction off the pitch. It said it all.

Swansea manager Paul Clement had to do something and withdrew a midfielder, Tom Carroll, and threw on another striker in Tammy Abraham but before that could have any effect City should have scored again as David Silva exchanged passes and was suddenly through on goal. But the net did not ripple. Instead he angled his shot across goal and wide. Soon after and Aguero forced another save from Fabianski with David Silva, just, failing to reach the rebound.

But the Spaniard would not be thwarted a third time with Sterling sneaking into the area from David Silva’s pass, and returning the ball to Silva, who was in the tightest of spaces but managed to lift it over Fabianski for his second goal.

City dominated even more. Aguero shot narrowly wide, after a seemingly endless passage of keep-ball, and then over-ran it as he was put clear on the counter by Bernardo before, at the other end, Ederson adjusted superbly to turn away a deflected shot by Roque Mesa.

Aguero would not be denied. He again ran at the Swansea defence, leaving Alfie Mawson trailing and arrowed a low shot across Fabianski to claim his goal and reach double figures for his sixth successive season at City while Swansea, as the stadium began to quickly empty, were left bereft.