Stoke City 0-2 Manchester City: 5 Talking Points

Score: Stoke City 0-2 Manchester City

Goalscorer: David Silva 10', 50'

The famous old question, "Can they do it on a cold night in Stoke?" was answered with ease by Manchester City as they sailed their way to a 2-0 win over the Potters at the Bet365 stadium. David Silva scored on either side of the interval to give City all three points without any fuss.

Stoke had a decent start to the game but were taken apart by a fine Manchester City move which resulted in the first goal. Silva then doubled the advantage in the second half and piled more pressure on Paul Lambert with Stoke sitting worryingly in the 19th position.

On that note, let's take a look at this game in much finer detail and dissect the key talking points that emerged from City's 2-0 win:

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#5 Manchester City finally complete a double over Stoke City

Stoke City and especially the games at the Bet365 stadium have posed a significant problem to Manchester City in recent years. But with a win tonight, City have done a double over Stoke, astonishingly for the first time since the 1998/99 season when both these sides were testing themselves in the third tier.

Add it to the fact that before today's win, City had won just two of their last nine trips to Stoke. Though the two victories came in the last two seasons, the record before that - 5 losses and 2 draws, does not prove to be a happy reading for the champions-elect.

But City finally asserted themselves at a daunting stadium in front of a raucous crowd to emerge victoriously. The previous meeting between the two sides had ended in a 7-2 win for the Cityzens which was one of their best performances this season and they now followed that up with a routine victory away from home.

#4 Gabriel Jesus steps up

Gabriel Jesus will be crucial in Aguero's absence

Sergio Aguero yesterday revealed that he would be out for two weeks with an issue in his left knee. It is now on the young but able shoulders of Gabriel Jesus to help City offensively - a job that he has managed brilliantly since his move to these shores. Against the Potters, Jesus was again seen at his influential best.

Though he could not register his name on the score sheet, the Brazilian striker had a hand in both the goals scored. He played a pass to Sterling on the right who then put a cross to Silva to finish whereas the second goal saw Jesus put a lobbed pass on a plate for Silva to finish it.

Jesus would love to get among the goals in Aguero's absence but tonight his off the ball movement and his creative abilities were the things that caught the eye ahead of his supreme finishing.

#3 It is not looking good for Paul Lambert and Co.

Relegation incoming

Winless in their last six and languishing at 19th in the league table, Stoke City are in the running for going down this season. Be it their lacklustre defending or their over-reliance on Xherdan Shaqiri, the Potters have failed to cross the finishing line on numerous occasions.

Stoke City have the second-worst defence in the league, conceding 56 goals in 30 matches. Meanwhile, Shaqiri has had a hand in 13 league goals this season (seven goals and eight assists). Worryingly for Stoke, they have scored just 28 which means that close to half of their goals have come with the Swiss man's involvement.

Coming back to the game, the atmosphere in the stadium tonight was spot on for a big clash against Manchester City but the players could not carry that energy on the field for the full 90 minutes.

Stoke still have eight fixtures left which include away trips to Arsenal and Liverpool and a home game against Tottenham Hotspur. It is tough for the Potters to get out of this rut and save themselves from the drop at the end in May.

#2 City put their away troubles behind them

City have won back to back away league games for the first time since December

Despite a nearly flawless season so far from the blue half of Manchester, a recent run of worrying form away from home had presented a sign of weakness for Guardiola and his men. But back to back wins on the road may have nipped this flaw right at the business end of the season.

A brilliant 3-0 win over Arsenal has now been followed by a 2-0 convincing win over the Potters at the Bet365 stadium. City had 77% possession in the game and never looked like losing grip on the proceedings. This win also saw them register two consecutive away wins in the league for the first time this calendar year.

Before these two victories, City had not won three of their previous four away Premier League encounters which has hence made this win over Stoke extra special. City drew against Burnley and Crystal Palace whereas a loss against Liverpool put the invincible dream to bed.

#1 A David Silva masterclass

Genius was on display at the Bet365 stadium

Not just his two goals, it was the all-round performance from the Spaniard David Silva which guided City to all three points who are now just three wins away from confirming the league title. Silva has had travel to and fro from Spain in recent weeks due to the health issues of his newly born son.

But remarkably, Silva has not let his personal problems affect his performances on the field. The Spaniard is playing some of his best football in recent years and with a brace, tonight, notched up seven goals in the Premier League. He also has nine assists to his name.

His finish for the second goal was exemplary, to say the least, and so was his passing. The deep-lying playmaker completed 96% of his passes and also had a hand in 3 key passes in the game. The Spaniard is going to play a huge role if City are to challenge for Europe this season and also to secure the league title as early as possible.

David Silva's game by numbers vs Stoke:100% take-ons completed96% pass accuracy93 passes3 shots3 chances created2 take-ons2 goalsMasterclass from El Mago. 💫 pic.twitter.com/N5jmj4vAR8

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 12, 2018