Manchester City easily dispatch of Swansea City to win their 15th consecutive Premier League game. Pep Guardiola reflects on David Silva's strong run of form as Manchester City's winning streak reached 15 games with their win over Swansea.
Manchester City have set a new top-flight record of 15 consecutive wins, following their 4-0 success at Swansea. After a string of tough ties, Pep Guardiola's team made light work of breaking down the Premier League's bottom club and it was a genuine walk in the park for the leaders. There could have been a Manchester Derby hangover, but there emphatically wasn't. Swansea City Manchester City 0 4 FT Game Details Live football odds with bet365. Bet Now » Highlights GameCast Lineups and Stats
Positives
Guardiola rotated his starting line-up by bringing in a few fresh faces and giving some tired legs a rest. It didn't show and City continued to play as they have been all season. Even the much-maligned Eliaquim Mangala was comfortable in the defence. The quality of City's goals was excellent, too.
Negatives
This was another match in which Guardiola could not have picked much wrong. Perhaps the only criticism he would have is that his team missed a number of good chances on top of the four they scored: he's a perfectionist, after all.
Manager rating out of 10
8 -- 8 -- Guardiola gave some key players time to rest to ease the pressure on his squad and it still didn't slow his team's record-breaking start to the campaign.
Player ratings (1-10; 10=best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Ederson Moraes, 8 -- A quiet night for the goalkeeper but he was alert to get two hands to a deflected shot late on and brilliantly turn it away. His footwork was as excellent as it normally is.
DF Danilo, 7 -- The full-back needed a good game to boost his confidence after barely getting time in the team to this point in the campaign, and he didn't disappoint. He was lively getting up and down the pitch and unlucky not to have taken a better touch when through on goal. Overall, a reliable performer.
DF Nicolas Otamendi, 8 -- A late clearance to preserve City's clean sheet was the highlight of his display but this was another solid and dependable performance from a defender that was regularly criticised in previous seasons. He's come on leaps and bounds in this team and is playing with confidence.
DF Eliaquim Mangala, 8 -- Forget the [player who was mercilessly ridiculed in previous seasons. This was a centre-back who was able to settle down after being thrown in the deep end. Not wanted by Guardiola after he almost left in the summer, the manager has made him into a player who will do a job until reinforcements are brought in.
MF Fabian Delph, 7 -- The midfielder recovered well from a dodgy Manchester Derby to put in a solid display against albeit a weak Swansea side. He drifted into the middle well to keep City dominant and out-numbering their opposition in the centre.
MF Fernandinho, 7 -- It was an easy evening for the midfielder. He controlled the play, keeping City on the front foot throughout the hour he was on the pitch. His movement and passing was excellent.
MF David Silva, 9 -- A brace from the creative midfielder crowned off a terrific display. His flicked finish for his first was cool while his chipped second goal was a delightful effort to put the game beyond doubt. The star of the show, Silva has managed to get even better despite already being one of the best the club has ever seen. David Silva was sensational in keeping Man City's winning run alive.
MF Kevin De Bruyne, 8 -- This was another display to file away as one of the midfielder's best, even if he barely broke a sweat. He was pressing Swansea into mistakes, his passing and vision kept the visitors on the front foot and he added another goal to his tally too. Did he mean it? Who knows. Either way, it was a wicked delivery.
MF Bernardo Silva, 7 -- Desperate to impress after not getting much playing time, the midfielder certainly seemed closer to settling into the team. His great cross for the opening goal left the Swansea defence and goalkeeper flummoxed, and he was a creative spark throughout the game.
MF Raheem Sterling, 7 -- All that was missing from the winger's performance was a goal. He was always ready to receive the ball and link-up with his teammates in pulling Swansea's defence apart. He was also on hand to provide David Silva with his second goal.
FW Sergio Aguero, 7 -- Having struggled to find the net from open play in recent weeks, City fans will have been delighted to see Aguero weave his way through the Swansea defence and slot an effort past goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. It was a brilliant goal and should fill him with confidence for the coming weeks.
Substitutes
MF Yaya Toure, 6 -- The game notably slowed down with the Ivory Coast international's introduction for Fernandinho on 58 minutes. He's not what he once was but he'll certainly be a great asset during the busy winter.
MF Oleksandr Zinchenko, NR -- The midfielder came in to deputise for Delph at left-back on 73 minutes and didn't look out of place.
MF Ilkay Gundogan, NR -- A late switch for De Bruyne on 77 minutes, Gundogan kept the midfield ticking over as City saw out a great win.
David Mooney is ESPN FC's Manchester City blogger. Twitter: @DavidMooney
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Source: espn.co.uk