Back to the Premier League Newsfeed

Pep Guardiola's Man City are part-Barcelona and part-Bayern Munich - against West Brom his superb hybrid tactics helped his side triumph 5-0

Manchester City blew away West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday using a quite brilliant game plan which was part-Barcelona and part-Bayern Munich.

Pep Guardiola applied two tactical innovations which he used at his past clubs, with West Brom's players being pulled all over the pitch as a result.

At Barca, Guardiola used Lionel Messi as a false nine and Riyad Mahrez performed that role to perfection at the Hawthorns.

Manchester City midfielder Riyad Mahrez dropped deep to pick up the ball against West Brom

Time and time again, Mahrez could be seen dropping into deep midfield, ready to receive the ball from John Stones or Ruben Dias before laying it off.