Manchester City emphatically made sure of their place in the group stages of the Champions League next season by thrashing Watford 5-0 at Vicarage Road.
Pep Guardiola’s side made the most of an abject showing from their hosts, with the home crowd making it clear that departing head coach Walter Mazzarri will not be missed.
City’s grip on third place ahead of Liverpool was rarely in doubt after captain Vincent Kompany headed a fifth-minute opener and Sergio Aguero’s first-half brace took him to 33 goals in all competitions this term.
The goalscoring emphasis then shifted from Argentina to Brazil, with Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus – the latter making it seven goals in eight Premier League starts – completing the scoring.
It meant City answered their manager’s call to be more clinical in front of goal as he contemplates the first campaign of his coaching career without a major honour.
A lapse from Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes almost handed City an opener inside the opening minute but a heavy touch from Aguero let him off the hook before Jesus’ header was cleared off the line by Jose Holebas.
The hosts’ early charity saw them punished though when Kompany was allowed ample room to plant a header beyond Gomes from Kevin De Bruyne’s corner.
Aguero was then denied by a fine reaction save from Gomes and wildly lashed a volley over on the rebound but netted his 32nd goal of the season midway through the first half.
