Player Ratings: Manchester City 6-1 Newcastle United

Joe Hart (6.5): This game was 1-0 Newcastle at one point (hard to believe), and Hart ensured that the visitors did not double their lead in the first half. He was not extremely busy, but his solid first-half performance was crucial. Second half? Well, City were on cruise control, and so was their netminder.

Pablo Zabaleta (6.5): He is still working his way back into form, but he had a decent outing seeing as this was his first full match in quite some time.

Nicolas Otamendi (6.0): He looked far too impetuous back there and was caught miles out of position on Newcastle's goal. The center-back situation resembles a game of musical chairs at the moment, but the offensive fireworks in the second half took loads of pressure off the back line.

Eliaquim Mangala (6.5): Mangala was not quite as guilty of ball-watching as Otamendi, but he did not look like a stone wall from the game's onset. However, this seemingly had more to do with the lack of chemistry he and Otamendi exhibited. His partnership with Vincent Kompany, on the other hand, was looking quite strong before the skipper went down with an injury a few weeks ago.

Aleksandar Kolarov (7.0): 85 minutes gone. City with a five-goal lead. Yet there were those pink boots flying down the left flank, a blur as the tireless Kolarov continued to work. The king of the overlap had a positive impact on the game in the second half as City refused to let up.

Fernando (6.5): Giorginio Wijnaldum was arguably the best player on the pitch in the first half, but City's center defensive midfielders elevated their level of play as the match wore on. By the second half, Wijnaldum's impact was muted, and Newcastle were sinking rapidly. The pairing of Fernando and Fernandinho could be solid at center defensive mid, but Yaya Toure's return will limit Fernando's playing time.

Fernandinho (8.0): Because of his health and his steady play, Fernandinho has really become the constant in this team. He is reliable, whether it be his defensive discipline or his attacking spark. He has also adapted well to playing with Fernando again, who is spelling Toure at the moment.

Kevin De Bruyne (8.5): His volley over Tim Krul was a thing of beauty. He and Silva ramped up the possession and the incisive passing in the second half, which was key to Aguero's explosion.

David Silva (8.5): The magician was simply too much for Newcastle to handle, and with the width Navas and De Bruyne provided in the second half, the Spaniard was virtually unstoppable in the middle.

Raheem Sterling (6.0): The 20-year-old has been the most enigmatic player in the team from the moment City signed him. His pace was surely going to give Daryl Janmaat fits, right? Not exactly. Sterling was extracted from the match at the half and was once again unable to consistently create opportunities with his pace.

Sergio Aguero (10.0): Aguero had two goals in seven league games before Saturday's fixture. He now has seven goals in eight games. Just as the football world was wrapping up its discussion of Cristiano Ronaldo's five-goal performance against Espanyol, Robert Lewandowski scored five against Wolfsburg. Aguero clearly wanted to throw his name into the I-can-score-on-command conversation, and well, it was relatively fun to watch.

Substitutes:

Jesus Navas (7.0): He took part in the thrashing that was the second half, entering the match for Sterling after the break. His tactical prowess is reason enough to have him out there. He logged his first assist of the season and looked smooth on the flank as City ran away with the game.

Wilfried Bony (6.5): It is important to remember just how skilled this man is. His touch can be downright brilliant, as he showed on 78 minutes when he gently settled the ball and beat a defender with a Ronaldinho snake move. He came on for Aguero and was unable to provide a net-bulging encore, but his role in the team involves far more than just finding the back of the net.

Kelechi Iheanacho (6.5): With about a quarter-hour remaining, the youngster hit a lovely curler that had looked destined for the far corner. He failed to find the back of the net, but his football IQ and his composure in the final third show just how precocious he is.