Manchester City extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to five points courtesy of a 3-0 win over Burnley at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon.
It was a record-equalling day for the club as they made it 11 wins on the bounce across all competitions, and also for Sergio Aguero as he drew level with Eric Brook's all-time mark of 177 Man City goals with the opener from the spot.
Burnley made things difficult for City, but the hosts took the game beyond the Clarets with a quickfire double in the final 20 minutes as Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane wrapped up the win.
Find out how all of the action unfolded courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute coverage below.
You will be hard pressed to find a team in better form than Man City right now, with Pep Guardiola's side scoring goals for fun and keeping things tight at the other end - a winning formula which is easy on the eye too. Burnley are in good form themselves, though, and have already taken points off plenty of the big boys this season, so this one may not be as straightforward as it appears on first glance.
Before we delve deeper into both sides, though, let's first check out the team news...
Well, just when you think Pep Guardiola might be starting to become predictable with his lineup, he switches things up again. The in-form pair of Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus both drop to the bench this afternoon, despite Guardiola having named an unchanged side for three matches in a row across all competitions.
Fantasy football managers beware.
Aguero had been an unused sub in his last two outings, but he starts this afternoon and is just one goal short of equalling Eric Brook as the club's all-time leading goalscorer. Aguero is currently on 176, and a brace this afternoon would see him right his name into the Man City record books.
© Offside
Aside from that it is as you were for Pep Guardiola's side, with the immensely talented duo of De Bruyne and David Silva providing the ammunition for the likes of Aguero and Sane to do some real damage. It really is a frightening attacking lineup at City's disposal when you consider the bench too.
Sontes and Otamendi both seem to have far fewer weaknesses in their games now than they did last season, whereas Walker has fitted seamlessly in at right-back. Even Delph, who is something of an emergency left-back following Mendy's injury, has been very impressive so far this season.
The back-up goalkeeper has impressed so far too, conceding just two goals during his 414 minutes on the pitch so far this season and registering a 91.7% save percentage - the highest of any Premier League goalkeeper this season.
Tarkowski in particular has stepped up to the plate, while Mee - who was perhaps underappreciated alongside Keane last term - has continued his own fine form. Lowton and Ward continue on the flanks, and all four of the defence know that they will have to be at their best this afternoon if they are to stop this City side.
That means starts for Arfield, Cork, Defour and Brady in midfield, with Hendrick expected to play just a little further forward in the number 10 role to give extra support for the striker.
Wood was prolific in the Championship, and he comes into this match having scored in four of his last seven games for Burnley across all competitions too. The Man City defenders will have a handful dealing with him today, and he is the type of striker who can hold the ball up well to relieve the pressure Burnley are expected to come under today.
City started last term in a similar way - if not quite as convincingly - so it is important to hold fire on proclaiming them as the champions elect this early in the season, but they have certainly established themselves as the early frontrunners.
Guardiola's side are one of only two teams still unbeaten in the league this term - alongside again United - but it is their goalscoring exploits which have arguably been the most impressive aspect with 29 plundered in their opening eight outings.
It has been impressive on that front from City so far this season too, with just four goals conceded in their eight Premier League games and only Manchester United boasting a better defensive record. Guardiola's side crucially look a lot sturdier at the back nowadays, which only serves to validate their title hopes.
Victory today would see City equal their club record of 11 consecutive wins in all competitions, and there doesn't appear to be any sign of them slowing down either.
That season famously ended with City winning the title with virtually the last kick of the season when Aguero fired home against Queens Park Rangers, and it could end up being another battle with local rivals Manchester United for top spot if the start of the campaign is anything to go by this time around.
It is 16 Premier League matches since they last lost, including 13 wins and three draws, while they have only suffered one defeat in their last six too. With six league wins on the bounce heading into this match, this is a City side in superb form.
City would have to score 11 today if they are to equal the all-time nine-game record of 40 goals - held jointly by Sunderland of 1892-93 and Blackburn of 1889-90, but the fact we have to go that far back shows how impressive this City side are - helped of course by that 7-2 win over Stoke last weekend.
City could also today become only the third team in English football history to win four home games in a row by a margin of five or more goals, and they are unbeaten in their last 21 matches in front of their own fans.
However, Burnley have been in good form themselves so far this season and will fancy their chances of stopping this City juggernaut in its tracks. Burnley are arguably as well equipped as any side to do that, and they have very recent history of upsetting the odds too.
It does get easier for Burnley on the road after today, but incredibly despite such a difficult away start the Clarets have already picked up more points away from home this season than they did throughout the entirety of the 2016-17 campaign.
Indeed, despite their first five away matches of the season coming against teams who finished in the top seven last term - including today - they are unbeaten in their five matches on the road this season. Burnley heavily relied on their home form to keep them safe last season, but that doesn't look like being the case this time around.
No team has drawn more games in the Premier League this season, with half of Burnley's outings ending all square, but to be just two points off the top four after eight games is impressive for a team of their calibre.
Within normal time, though, they have won three and drawn five of their last eight matches since losing to West Brom in August - which remains their only defeat across all competitions so far this season.
It is the club's best run in the top flight since February 1975, but if they manage to extend that unbeaten streak this afternoon then that would surely go down as the best result in the run. No-one looks capable of stopping City at the moment, but that is exactly the type of challenge Sean Dyche likes.
That is more a reflection on Manchester City's form, of course, but it is still harsh on Burnley - although they may relish the underdog status. They may also be inspired by the fact that the previous longest odds for a Premier League game were offered on Blackburn in 2011, and they ended up beating Manchester United 3-2 on that occasion.
Despite those long odds on Burnley, and Man City's imperious form at the moment, I cannot see this being as emphatic a win for City as it may appear on first glance. I still expect the hosts to come away with another win, but rather than a huge margin I will go for a 2-0 win.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Man City 2-0 Burnley
That is a run which stretches back to 1974, when both clubs were in the second tier, and includes 10 Manchester City victories and five draws. In the Premier League alone, Burnley have won one, drawn two and lost three of their meetings with City.
That, however, was Burnley's first defeat at the hands of Man City in an away game since 2001, when Paulo Wanchope scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 victory for City at Maine Road.
City's last clean sheet in a league match against Burnley also came in 1999, when they ran out 6-0 winners in a third-tier clash.
MAN CITY STARTING XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph; Fernandinho, Bernardo, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane; Aguero
BURNLEY STARTING XI: Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward; Arfield, Cork, Hendrick, Defour, Brady; Wood
Ederson is quick off his line to beat Wood to the ball, but he spills it initially and is a little fortunate to win a free kick when diving at the feet of Arfield seconds later.
Elsewhere, Leicester now lead Swansea through a Fernandez own goal.
The penalty itself is a harsh one as Bernardo Silva goes down inside the area - rather dramatically it must be said. Pope, having just thwarted De Bruyne from point-blank range, came out to get the ball off Bernardo, but the Man City winger got there first.
There isn't much contact at all, but Roger East has no doubt about it and points to the spot. Some handbags follow as Burnley accuse Bernardo of diving, but after all that Aguero makes no mistake by sending the keeper the wrong way.
Burnley has applied themselves well and have not made things easy for City whatsoever, but City have created chances and finally made the breakthrough on the half-hour mark. Burnley will need to show more going forward in the second half if they are to get back into this one.
Aguero netted his 177th goal in City colours by sending the keeper the wrong way, although the penalty itself was controversial as Bernardo Silva went down softly inside the area. Pope came out to meet the winger but was late to the ball and Bernardo went down in dramatic fashion.
Referee Roger East pointed to the spot, but it was a soft one.
Bernardo has also been denied by the Burnley keeper, and without Pope in such good form the Clarets may already be out of contention in this match.
Burnley have been organised, but suffered a blow when Wood went off injured and have struggled to make an impact at the sharp end of the field.
This is a thing of beauty too, with De Bruyne threading a beauty of a pass through for Sane, who cuts inside before curling his effort past Pope. Burnley were in this game two minutes ago, but now it is game over.
Coupled with Manchester United's defeat at the hands of Huddersfield that sends City five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, but it is Sergio Aguero who will dominate the headlines on a day which saw him equal Eric Brook's all-time scoring record of 177 goals for the club.
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's game as Manchester City move five-points clear at the top of the table on a record-equalling day for the club and striker Sergio Aguero. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
