It appeared to be a mismatch from the start. It turned into one of the most lopsided results in Premier League history.
Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champion and runaway favorite to repeat, entered Saturday’s match with 16 goals and a 3-1-1 record in its first five league matches. Watford had four goals in six matches, two draws and four losses.
City dominated in every phase of an 8-0 win, the second-largest margin of victory in the Premier League after Manchester United’s 9-0 thrashing of Ipswich Town in 1995. Five of City’s goals — yes, five, of them — came in the first 18 minutes.