Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick as ruthless Manchester City moved back into second position after thrashing Aston Villa 6-1 at Villa Park. The Argentine striker also broke Thiery Henry’s record to become the Premier League’s all-time leading overseas goalscorer.
The Argentine took his tally to 177 league goals to surpass Arsenal legend Thierry Henry’s mark, who found the net 175 times. A brace from Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus’ strike helped City earn a 6-1 win. The hat-trick was Aguero’s 12th in his Premier League career, taking that record outright having previously shared it with Alan Shearer, who remains the competition’s most prolific player with 260 goals.
Mahrez opened the scoring in the 18 minutes after he breezed away from debutant Danny Drinkwater and steered in at the near post. A few minutes later, Drinkwater committed another error when his heavy touch inside his own penalty area allowed Mahrez to thunder home a second.
Aguero made it three with a piledriver from range, though Orjan Nyland should have done better than his weak-wristed attempt at a save. On the stroke of half-time, it was four. Kevin De Bruyne bending in one of those ridiculous crosses that left Jesus no option but to find the back of the net.
The Argentine got his second shortly before the hour mark, guiding into the bottom corner after being found by David Silva, while Gabriel Jesus would have scored if it not for a crucial block from Tyrone Mings. Guardiola then had the luxury of resting several key men, with De Bruyne, Rodri and Fernandinho all withdrawn, while Sterling was not called off the bench.
City’s had clearly eased up, but a clanger from Kortney Hause still gifted Aguero the chance to win the match ball and he made no mistake.
There was finally some consolation for Villa in stoppage time as El Ghazi pounced home a superb spot-kick after Ilkay Gundogan had fouled Trezeguet.
