Jack Grealish scored on his home debut as Man City bounced back from defeat with a 5-0 thumping of Norwich City at the Etihad Stadium.
City were unrelenting from the first whistle to the last and took the lead after six minutes, as Grant Hanley’s attempted clearance from Gabriel Jesus’ cross hit Tim Krul and went into his own net, the first of three assists from the Brazilian from an inside right position manager Pep Guardiola claimed was his favoured role after full-time.
Jesus’ second would tee up £100m man Grealish for his first City goal midway through the first half, before the ex-Aston Villa captain celebrated with his fingers in his ears as an apparent message to his detractors.
Aymeric Laporte scored his first goal at the Etihad from Ilkay Gundogan’s corner just after the hour (64) before Raheem Sterling, dropped from Guardiola’s starting line-up, scored 10 minutes after coming on as Jesus racked up his third assist (70) with another low ball from out wide.
It took Norwich 78 minutes to muster their one and only shot of the game through winger Milot Rashica before substitute Riyad Mahrez fried in late on (84) as the Canaries’ punishing start to the season continued, while City earned a morale-boosting win to recover from their defeat at Tottenham last weekend.
“He is a player who likes to play more wide than central positions,” said Guardiola. “His combination with Kyle Walker was exceptional. I am very pleased with the performance he has made, an incredibly important player for us, he is so young. I am incredibly satisfied.”
