Manchester City have picked up 13 points from their opening five games, which is enough to see them top the Premier League table at this early stage, but this is still their worst start to a season since 2014-15...
Pep Guardiola's side produced one of the most clinical attacking displays likely to be seen all season as they dismantled Watford 6-0 at Vicarage Road. The emphatic result sends a threatening message to their Premier League title rivals.
It was a classy performance, with Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus developing a formidable partnership, David Silva and De Bruyne providing a creative spark and Ederson bringing a reassuring presence in goal.
Since the international break, City have been in unstoppable form, scoring 15 goals in three games without conceding. It looks like things are clicking into place for the Citizens but despite sitting joint top of the league with rivals Manchester United, it is actually their worst start to a Premier League season in three years.
The club's recent history at the start of the campaign has been so impressive that 13 points from a possible 15 this time around leaves them two short of the amount they have picked up in their previous two seasons.
City have dropped their only Premier League points so far at home to Everton on August 21st, in their opening home league game of the campaign. Wayne Rooney's opening goal for the visitors was followed by Kyle Walker's sending off and despite the numerical disadvantage, City dominated most of the match but needed a late equaliser courtesy of Raheem Sterling to rescue a point.
The Toffees have since lost their last three games in the league, which suggests that City probably ought to be sitting top of the league with a 100 per cent record, as they have done in the previous two seasons.
At the beginning of the 2015-16 season, City beat West Brom, Chelsea, Everton, Watford and Crystal Palace without conceding a goal but ended up finishing fourth, 15 points behind Champions Leicester City.
Last season they made an even more emphatic start, winning their first eight games in all competitions, including victories over Sunderland, Stoke, West Ham, Man United and Bournemouth.
But yet again, come the end of the season, CIty were 15 points off champions Chelsea with six defeats and nine draws contributing to their third-placed finish.
Guardiola will be hoping he can build on their now customary fast start and extend their form over the course of the season to finish on top come the end of May.