Stoke City condemned Manchester City to their 4th defeat of the season after putting in a swashbuckling display of attacking football at the Britannia stadium on Saturday.
City were missing the spine of their team (Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany) through injury and it showed as they were completely outplayed by an excellent Stoke side. Austrian winger Marko Arnautovic scored twice in the first 15 minutes of the match to send Stoke into the top half of the league table.
Arnautovic, along with Bojan and Shaqiri, tormented the Manchester City defence throughout the course of the match in a stellar display of attacking football. The defeat left City in 3rd position in the league – 3 points adrift of league leaders Leicester City.
Twiteratti wasted no time in heaping more misery on the Citizens following their lackluster display against Stoke.
Mark Hughes tactics: Are you Shaqiri? No: Pass to Shaqiri Yes: Pass to Arnautovic Goal!?YZ
a Jad Cfc Rachidi (@JadCfcRachidi) December 5, 2015
Stoke fans will be pretty happy with Xherdan Shaqiria s contribution thus far ?Y Two assists; 2-0. pic.twitter.com/PqRXPY8RHI a Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) December 5, 2015
One of the best all round performances by Stoke today I’ve seen all season . Really enjoyed watching them . Some great football ?Y?Z
a Glenn Hoddle (@GlennHoddle) December 5, 2015
Sounds like @XS_11official can do it on a cold windy saturday early afternoon , can he do it on a cold,windy Tuesday though?Y? a Robbie Fowler (@Robbie9Fowler) December 5, 2015
Jesus Christ Shaqiri! STOP IT! ?Y? Y? Y? #STKMCI
a Sem. (@sem073) December 5, 2015
I think Shaqiri might be the best player i have ever seen! *hides* a Lord Raidenas? (@Yazieiid) December 5, 2015
Stokealona strike again! Doesn’t matter who you are know one wants to go to Stoke on a cold windy winters day!
a Chris Ead (@cjead10) December 5, 2015
Stoke City… 1998 – Thorne, Kavanagh and Oldfield 2015 – Afellay, Bojan and Shaqiri #SCFC pic.twitter.com/iMMcrZQRN9 a Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) December 5, 2015
Shaqiri, so messi-like ?Y??
a Araviin Januzaj (@CmPunk0412) December 5, 2015
“That’s why he played for Bayern,” the commentator says about Shaqiri, ignoring that Demichelis also played for Bayern a Wile E Kouyat (@tomvictor) December 5, 2015
Shaqiri only does legs on days that end in “y”
a Andy (@AJ3) December 5, 2015
Manchester City’s back-line today is worse than Barcelona’s against Celta earlier this season. And that’s quite something. Shambolic. a Sergi Dom nguez (@FutbolSergi) December 5, 2015
Saturday: Bayern Munich lose 3-1 Jamie Vardy doesn’t score Stoke play like Barcelona pic.twitter.com/jNyyUK1eQt
a BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) . December 6, 2015
Stoke overwhelm Man City, West Ham unfortunate to draw at Old Trafford, Bournemouth win at Chelsea. Quite a Premier League season this… a Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) December 5, 2015
Stoke City A?27m (2) Man City A?253m (0) What a bloody job this manager of ours is doing
a DUCK MAGAZINE (@DUCKmagstoke) December 5, 2015