Manchester City opened up a two-point lead over neighbor Manchester United at the top of the Premier League thanks to another display of scintillating brilliance in a 7-2 thrashing of Stoke City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
After the high-noon showdown between Liverpool and a United side lacking in any great ambition ended in goalless stalemate at Anfield, City cashed in with a third straight league match at Etihad Stadium in which it has struck at least five goals.
Pep Guardiola's men became the first team to net 29 goals in their first eight league games of a top-flight campaign in England since Everton in 1894-95, as some of their main title challengers faltered.