Sergio Aguero hat-trick steers Manchester City; Manchester United slump

Manchester City move to joint top of EPL with Sergio Aguero-inspired thrashing of Huddersfield, but Manchester United fall in upset.

Manchester City's Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero celebrates his hat trick against Huddersfield. Photo: AFP

Sergio Aguero netted his 13th hat-trick for Manchester City as the champions made light of the absence of the injured Kevin De Bruyne to thrash Huddersfield 6-1 and move joint top of the English Premier League.

But it was a day to forget for City’s arch rivals Manchester United, who slumped 3-2 at Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan’s Brighton.

Huddersfield, who were without Ryan’s Australia teammate Aaron Mooy because his wife Nicola was going into labour, were never likely to replicate last season’s feat of stopping City scoring at home.

Aguero struck twice before the break and, after hitting a post and passing up a series of other opportunities, completed his ninth top-flight treble with a deft 75th-minute finish in a 6-1 rout.

Aguero scored after 25 and 35 minutes, either side of Gabriel Jesus’ effort before Jon Gorenc Stankovic reduced the deficit to 3-1 at the break. David Silva restored City’s advantage with a fine free-kick three minutes after the restart.

Aguero’s third came with manager Pep Guardiola preparing to replace him, and Terence Kongolo’s own goal six minutes from time completed the scoring with the Terriers suffering badly without key midfield ringmaster Mooy. Later on Sunday, woeful defending led to two Brighton goals in two first-half minutes as Glenn Murray and Shane Duffy outsmarted Manchester United’s STGtg 117 million pound ($A204 million) back four.

Eric Bailly was particularly exposed and, having conceded a needless corner that led to Duffy’s first EPL goal he blundered in to foul Pascal Gross, who put away the penalty via David de Gea’s leg on the stroke of halftime. Although Romelu Lukaku had earlier reduced the deficit with a trademark header, United looked ill-equipped to mount a comeback and Paul Pogba’s injury-time penalty made the scoreline closer than the match.

“Too many mistakes. We were punished by the mistakes,” boss Jose Mourinho admitted.

“Sometimes you make mistakes and are not punished but we were punished by every mistake we made.” Meanwhile, second-half strikes from skipper Troy Deeney and Will Hughes gave Watford an impressive 3-1 win at Burnley.

Former Burnley forward Andre Gray opened the scoring in the third minute with a superbly taken volley.

Three minutes later Burnley got back on level terms when James Tarkowski headed home from corner.

Watford hit Burnley, who have now gone seven league games without a win, twice after the break.

Deeney drove home in the 48th minute then a terrible giveaway by Burnley defender Matt Lowton to Will Hughes resulted in the Watford midfielder firing past Joe Hart with a brilliant left-foot strike.

Watford captain Deeney said: “Last season we didn’t all have a pre-season together, but this pre-season everybody put in the graft. You can see by our energy levels at the end.”

Man City 6, Huddersfield 1
Man City: Sergio Aguero (25, 35, 75), Gabriel Jesus (31), David Silva (48), Terence Kongolo (84, own goal). Huddersfield: Jon Stankovic (43). Halftime: 3-1.

Brighton 3, Man United 2
Brighton: Glenn Murray (25), Shane Duffy (27), Pascal Gross (44, pen.). Man United: Romelu Lukaku (34), Paul Pogba (90, pen.). Halftime: 3-1.

Burnley 1, Watford 3
Burnley: James Tarkowski (6). Watford: Andre Gray (3), Troy Deeney (48), Will Hughes (51). Halftime: 1-1.

REUTERS