Manchester City’s sixth consecutive victory derived from a scintillating Bernardo Silva goal that oozed quality from start to finish. It was also Pep Guardiola’s 150th
Premier League victory, achieved in a record 204 games, 26 fewer than José Mourinho – and a first defeat in charge of Villa for Steven Gerrard.
Given the six major players who were ruled out, Guardiola was overjoyed at how his side refused to be intimidated by a raucous opposition support. They repelled the speed of Villa on the counter while displaying their familiar silky attacks. Of his matchwinner Silva he said: “He is the best [in the league] – like two or three seasons ago, when we won the title with 98 points.”