Sergio Aguero scores four as Manchester City thrash Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium

SERGIO Aguero fired a four-goal blast as Manchester City thrashed 10-man Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in a remarkable EPL clash featuring four penalties.

498499201

SERGIO Aguero fired a four-goal blast as Manchester City thrashed 10-man Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in a remarkable clash featuring four penalties at Etihad Stadium.

NO COSTA, NO PROBLEM AS CHELSEA CRUISE

WELBECK RESCUES POINT FOR RELIEVED ARSENAL

SUPER SAINTS SMACK EIGHT PAST SUNDERLAND

Aguero was the headline act in a memorable encounter as Manuel Pellegrini’s team maintained second place on the table, five points behind Chelsea.

The Argentina forward opened the scoring in the 13th minute and then struck from the penalty spot seven minutes later after Christian Eriksen’s 15th-minute equaliser.

Joe Hart dives to his right to keep Roberto Soldado’s penalty out.

Aguero missed a chance to seal his hat-trick before half-time when his second penalty was saved by Hugo Lloris.

Referee Jon Moss awarded the third penalty of the match in the 62nd minute when Martin Demichelis tripped Tottenham’s Roberto Soldado, with replays indicating the offence took place outside the penalty area.

However, Spanish striker Soldado fluffed the chance to equalise as his spot-kick was saved by Joe Hart.

Moss gave his fourth penalty in the 68th minute when Federico Fazio pulled back Aguero, a foul that also earned the Argentine defender a red card on his Premier League debut.

Aguero, who is now City’s record scorer in the Premier League era, stroked home the penalty and sealed the one-man demolition job with another clinical strike to make it four in the 75th minute.

The English league record for penalties in a single game is five awarded by referee Kelvin Morton when Crystal Palace met Brighton in March 1989.

“I’m very happy,” Aguero said.

“We are really happy. The (man of the match) trophy is for all the team because the team has helped me get the goals.”

Federico Fazio is given his marching orders.

Aguero looked to have sustained a back injury towards the end of the match, but insisted he would be fine to feature in City’s Champions League clash against CSKA Moscow in midweek.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m ready for the next game,” he said.

Pellegrini was delighted to see his side display a ruthless streak, but was quick to point out that the result was not solely down to Aguero, with Hart one of several players to shine for the hosts.

“First of all when we win a game it is not just because of one or two players. I think the whole team had a good performance,” he said.

“Of course when you score four goals as Kun (Aguero) did today or make as many saves as Joe Hart, it is very important for our team. But it isn’t fair not to talk about James Milner, Jesus Navas, (Vincent) Kompany or (Bacary) Sagna and what they did because all the team played well – although we made some mistakes.”

“I am not just saying this because he scored four goals today, but I think Kun is one of the best three or four strikers in the world.

“Last year he had injuries but now, this season, he is working very well – he didn’t start the first game so he could be 100 per cent fit.

“He won’t score four every game but he will demonstrate why everyone says he is one of the best players in the world.

“Joe is the No. 1 keeper in England. He made important saves today, especially the penalty, but he also made a good save in the first five or six minutes which was important so we did not start with conceding a goal.”

Originally published as Sergio Aguero scores four as Manchester City thrash Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium