Premier League round-up: Aguero fires City top, Liverpool held

A Sergio Aguero hat-trick helped Manchester City destroy Watford 6-0 at Vicarage Road, a result which moves them top of the Premier League table.

With leaders Manchester United not playing until Sunday afternoon's visit of Everton, even a point would have sent Pep Guardiola's side top and once Aguero put City ahead with a glancing header just after 27 minutes, three points looked like a formality.

Good combination play between Gabriel Jesus and David Silva - as well as poor goalkeeping from Heurelho Gomes - presented Aguero with a tap-in minutes later.

Aguero then turned provider just before the break as Jesus finished his pass in off the far post. Replays showed the Brazilian - like Aguero for his first goal - was marginally offside.

Nicolas Otamendi's header made it four on 64 minutes before Aguero completed his hat-trick with a stunning solo run and finish.

Raheem Sterling completed the scoring in the final minutes after winning and smashing home a spot-kick.

Liverpool lost more ground on the leaders as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Burnley at Anfield.

Scott Arfield put Sean Dyche's side ahead on 27 minutes with a cracking half-volley but Mohamed Salah levelled on the half-hour mark with a neat finish.

With Philippe Coutinho back in the starting line-up Jurgen Klopp's men dominated the play but despite pressing hard for a second, they could not convert any of their numerous efforts on goal.

Newcastle United are up to fourth after their third win on-the-spin saw them beat Stoke City 2-1 at St. James' Park.

Chris Atsu put the Magpies ahead when he finished Matt Richie's lovely ball but Xherdan Shaqiri curled in a fine, long-range equaliser after the break.

But captain Jamaal Lascelles, who got the winner last week, again proved the hero as he headed home what proved to be the decisive goal from Richie's cross on 68 minutes.

Jamie Vardy's 50th-minute penalty earned Leicester City a 1-1 draw against Huddersfield Town at John Smith's stadium.

The Terriers broke the deadlock through Laurent Depoitre not long after the restart, a lead their dominant performance deserved.

However, soon after Chris Lowe's trip on Andy King handed Vardy the chance to square matters and he made no mistake, firing his shot straight down the middle.

Elias Kachunga thought he had restored David Wagner's side's advantage when he got the final touch on Mathias Jorgensen's effort but he was correctly adjudged to have been offside.

The point means Huddersfield remain unbeaten at home and they are now in fifth place.

West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United played out a dull scoreless draw at The Hawthorns.

There were only two shots on target throughout the uninspiring 90 minutes with the closest either side came to scoring being Pedro Obiang's brilliant effort from just outside the centre circle catching out ben Foster in the Baggies' goal but unluckily smashing off the crossbar.

The Premier League continues with Swansea's visit to Wembley to take on Spurs on Saturday evening, live on BT Sport 1 [kick off 5.30pm]

Image: Getty/Dan Mullan

eir Sport channels are available across the eir Vision, Sky and Vodafone TV platforms as well as on the eir Sport app. All 7 channels in the eir Sport pack are available for free if you are a residential eir broadband customer.