Manchester City 6-0 Tottenham: Aguero puts woeful Spurs to the sword

The Argentine starred for Manuel Pellegrini's side, while strikes from Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo and a Sandro own goal compounded Spurs' misery at the Etihad Stadium

The result means City maintains its unbeaten home record this season, also launching the club into the top four.

The home side opened the scoring after only 13 seconds through Jesus Navas, with a Sandro own goal and Sergio Aguero’s close-range strike leaving City comfortably ahead at the break.

A second from Aguero was followed by Alvaro Negredo's fifth in the league this season, before another Navas goal in injury-time heaped further humiliation on Tottenham.

The win moves City into fourth place in the table - ahead of Southampton on goal difference - while Tottenham drops two places to ninth.

VIEW FROM THE ETIHAD  STADIUM IN MANCHESTER

ALVARO NEGRO SLOTTING HOME PAST LLORIS

Andre Villas-Boas' side was barely able to test Costel Pantilimon in the City goal as a lackluster performance added to the disappointment of the thumping defeat.

City made five changes to the side beaten by Sunderland before the international break, with Navas starting in the league for the first time since the Manchester derby in September.

Erik Lamela - one of six changes for Tottenham - was handed his first Premier League start for the visiting side, with Hugo Lloris also returning to the starting lineup.

But the France international did not enjoy a good start to the game as City posted the joint-quickest goal of the Premier League campaign.

A poor clearance from Lloris went straight to Aguero 20 yards from goal and, although his shot was saved, the loose ball was met by Navas, who lofted it over the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

Lamela then nearly leveled as Spurs slowly began to settle into the game - but they were unable to turn their possession into goals and were caught out again in the 34th minute.

Fernandinho capitalized on another clearance from Lloris to release Samir Nasri on the left, before he in turn lifted the ball to Aguero.

The Argentinian’s effort was pushed away by Lloris but the ball dropped to Negredo, whose acrobatic follow-up found the net via deflections off Younes Kaboul and Sandro.

City extended the lead four minutes before the break as Navas fired a low cross into the six-yard box and Aguero slotted home from six yards.

Five minutes into the second half Aguero doubled his tally with his 14th goal in 11 matches. Yaya Toure was the creator, powerfully brushing his way past Kyle Walker before rolling the ball square and leaving the Argentine the simple task of converting.

Negredo then made it five after an outrageous piece of skill saw him beat Michael Dawson on the edge of the penalty area.

The Spaniard flicked the ball through the defender's legs following a pass from Fernandinho and emphatically fired past Lloris.

Tottenham was unable to muster a reply and conceded a sixth in stoppage time when a raking long ball from substitute James Milner provided Navas with a one-on-one he coolly converted.