The last time Manchester City went seven games without victory across all competitions was in April 2004. Kevin Keegan was managing the team, which was flirting with relegation from the Premier League, and Nicolas Anelka was the club record signing at £13 million—mere peanuts compared to the modern outlays.
Twelve-and-a-half years later, that was a record Pep Guardiola would have been desperate to avoid breaking when he travelled to The Hawthorns to take on West Brom. From kickoff, it was never in danger as City’s midfield dominated, while the attack demonstrated far more penetration than in recent weeks.