Sergio Aguero grabs hat trick as Man City hit six at Watford

Sergio Aguero's hat trick sent Manchester City top of the Premier League as Pep Guardiola's men thrashed Watford 6-0 at Vicarage Road.

Aguero spearheaded a rampant triumph, also laying on a goal for Gabriel Jesus as he inched ever closer to City's all-time goalscoring record.

Kevin De Bruyne conjured two assists, while Nicolas Otamendi's header and Raheem Sterling's penalty completed City's rout.

Aguero took his City tally to 175 goals, now just three shy of Eric Brook's club record of 177 that has stood since 1939.

City host struggling Crystal Palace in their next Premier League encounter -- and in this form Aguero could easily claim another treble and break Brook's record at the next available opportunity.

Watford started the day with hopes of reaching the top-flight's summit for the first time since September 1982, but ended it having leaked 11 goals without reply in their last two home league meetings with City.

The Hornets closed last term with a 5-0 home defeat to City, and not even new boss Marco Silva's growing influence could do anything to stop another humbling.

De Bruyne could have had four assists and a goal inside half an hour. Instead he had to be content with laying on the opener.

The former Chelsea playmaker ran the early show at Vicarage Road, twice playing in Sterling and once more Aguero at the top of the contest.

He flicked wide from 18 yards in a rare miscue but then made no mistake whatsoever when teeing up Ageruo's opener.

The sheer speed of De Bruyne's teasing, whipped free kick bamboozled Watford's defenders and goalkeeper, and Aguero's deft header did the rest.

The sense of a mismatch was growing just three minutes later when Jesus cantered down the left and slid through to David Silva, who served up Aguero's second on the half-hour.

The irresistible visitors twisted the knife still further when Aguero turned provider for strike partner Jesus, leaving City coasting to the top of the table.

Watford began the second half brightly, but then De Bruyne's accurate corner picked Watford's defensive alignment apart again and Otamendi powered home the header.

Aguero had no intention of cutting short Watford's horror-show either, scything through the static defence before rolling home his hat trick goal.

When Sterling was felled in the Watford box late on, the former Liverpool forward convinced both Aguero and Guardiola to let him take the penalty, lashing it home to complete City's remarkable afternoon.