Jeremy Doku has broken two Premier League records after starring in Manchester City’s 6-1 victory against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The Belgian winger scooped the Man of the Match award after scoring one and assisting four to help the Citizens claim maximum points against the Cherries and climb to the top of the Premier League table.
Doku, a £55m summer signing from Rennes, opened the scoring for the reigning champions on the half-hour mark with a curling strike into the far corner following a neat one-two with Rodri on the edge of the area.
City’s No.11 then set up Bernardo Silva for two goals and a strike from Phil Foden either side of a shot that deflected off the back of Manuel Akanji for the hosts’ third of the match.
Luis Sinisterra pulled one back for Bournemouth before Nathan Ake added a sixth two minutes from time to wrap up City’s biggest victory of the season and extend their impressive winning home run in the Premier League to 21 games – a new club record.
With one goal and four assists, at the age of 21 years and 161 days, Doku has become the youngest player in Premier League history to contribute to five goals in a single match, as well as the division’s youngest player to set up four goals in the same game.
Doku has become the eighth Premier League player to assist four goals in the same game after Paul Pogba, Harry Kane, Santi Cazorla, Emmanuel Adebayor, Cesc Fabregas, Jose Antonio Reyes and Dennis Bergkamp.
The winger has now contributed with four goals and six assists in 14 games for Man City across all competitions, including two goals and five assists in eight Premier League fixtures.
Speaking to mancity.com after the match, Doku said: “I’m very proud. In this team it is so easy, there’s a lot of movement.
“Everyone is top. When you play with top players, it’s easy to find the right pass and find the right time to do something.
“Honestly, today, I knew when I had to go and I found the right balance today, that was the most important thing.
“I Improve every day, in the training sessions, everything. I can see it already. All my assists were different, it’s a good thing, as long as it’s an assist, I’m happy.”
Commenting on Doku’s dazzling display, manager Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports: “What surprised me the most is how we knew his one on ability but how clever he is when he has to take a decision, it’s really good. Sometimes he attracts one two or three layers and his decision is really good to take the extra pass.
“I have a feeling he understands everything so we say some comments, maybe you should do this and reflect and he says yes and applies immediately.
“He understands the game really well. He is incredible threat, so aggressive close to the box so good there. I don’t want to change the s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s that he is but so far every game he has played he has played well especially here at home.”
Ake has also heaped praise on his Belgian teammate, adding: “Jeremy [Doku] was fantastic. He was brilliant. Sometimes you need individual quality to open up the game and he did that. He was fantastic.
“His personality, he works hard, he’s a good guy and he gets on with everyone. He’s not shy to show his abilities, he wants to take everyone on even in training. He’s so difficult to mark and he’s going to be important this season.”
Doku will be looking to continue his fine form in front of goal when Man City welcome Young Boys to the Etihad for a Champions League group-stage clash on Tuesday.
