Manchester City were comfortable 3-1 winners over Hull on Saturday afternoon, putting an end to a run of four Premier League games without a victory. They had few problems dispatching the visitors and gave the fans an entertaining performance at the Etihad, too.
Positives
After a few weeks of poor results — and with both Arsenal and Manchester United creeping up the table toward City in fourth place — Pep Guardiola’s team were able to get back on track. City’s play was excellent at times, too.
Negatives
It’s now seven goals conceded by Claudio Bravo from the past seven shots on target he’s faced. With a defense held together by sticky tape in front of him — Jesus Navas at right-back and Gael Clichy struggling — there are major issues in the rearguard for the manager to solve. Many questions remain after Saturday’s win.
7 — The only questionable decision the manager made was to swap his goalkeeper, though it came after a couple of dodgy displays from Willy Caballero.
GK Claudio Bravo, 3 — It’s impressive that the goalkeeper was able to hog the headlines on a day when City were more than comfortable in victory. There was nothing wrong with his footwork, which actually set the team up for a couple of attacks that resulted in goals, but he just can’t save shots. Andrea Ranocchia must not have believed his luck when his weak effort straight at the goalkeeper slipped through him and into the net. After being dropped to take the pressure off, the Chilean has piled it all straight back on to himself with another howler. He can play the ball better than Joe Hart or Caballero, but surely he can’t be the long-term answer?
DF Gael Clichy, 6 — It was one of the Frenchman’s better games of late, given there wasn’t a defensive error at any point. He was rarely stretched, but could have helped more in attack on the flank.
DF John Stones, 7 — The centre-back is really growing into the role at City. This was a quieter day for him than in recent weeks, but he controlled the play well and drove forward when the opportunity came up.
DF Aleksandar Kolarov, 7 — After a career of hit-and-miss performances at left-back, the Serbian has become something of a reliable centre-half. He read the game well and produced several brilliant sweeping passes to the opposite wing.
MF Jesus Navas, 7 — Perhaps it was because he had few defensive duties despite having played at right-back, but Navas put in one of his best performances for some time. There were a good number of great crosses, just begging to be finished in the first half.
MF Yaya Toure, 6 — It was a quiet day for the Ivorian, who had a stranglehold on the midfield from the start until he was taken off. He controlled play and always found a teammate.
MF Fabian Delph, 8 — It’s clear why Guardiola said that maybe Delph “deserved more minutes” in his prematch news conference, because he gave City a level of energy that’s been missing of late. His finish for the third goal was brilliant, too.
MF David Silva, 7 — Making his 300th appearance for City, Silva was every bit as good as he was when he first joined the club. It’s been customary for the fans to sing his praises for his vision, passing and ability to get out of tight spaces — and Saturday was another to add to the growing list of those games.
MF Leroy Sane, 6 — The German has been a big feature of City’s attack recently, but it was a quiet day for him against Hull. He saw plenty of the ball, but couldn’t quite make it happen in the final third.
MF Raheem Sterling, 8 — Moved into the middle to support Sergio Aguero, Sterling was always a threat to the Hull defence, who just couldn’t live with his movement and pace. His assist for the third goal was something special, too.
FW Sergio Aguero, 8 — The striker never stopped throughout the 90 minutes and worked across the front line perfectly. He continued to pop up in pockets of space and got involved in deep areas, too. His goal was well-taken — but it could be taken off him as an own goal.
Substitutes
MF Nolito, 6 — Replacing Sane on 66 minutes, the Spaniard was solid, if not spectacular. The game was won and had slowed down in the heat.
FW Kelechi Iheanacho, N/R — On for Silva on 73 minutes, Iheanacho provided a couple of nearly moments, but it didn’t quite click in the final third.
MF Fernando, N/R — The Brazilian kept things ticking over when he came on for Toure after 74 minutes.
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