Manchester City vs. Newcastle United: Breaking Down David Silva's Performance

Manchester City’s 5-0 win over Newcastle United was as comfortable as it was important. The visitors rolled over, allowing City an almost free ride, with the result reducing Chelsea’s lead at the top of the table to five points after their draw at home to Burnley. It was City’s 11th consecutive league win over the Magpies in what is becoming one of the most one-sided fixtures in the country.

It was a comprehensive display, arguably their best of the season, and it comes on the back of a wonderful second-half performance at Stoke City. After a dreadful six-week run of form from the turn of the year, it appears City have turned the corner.

Central to Saturday’s thumping win was David Silva, City’s Spanish midfielder. He scored two wonderful goals and provided an assist for Edin Dzeko’s goal in what was perhaps his finest performance of the season.

He has long been considered the team’s most important player, the man who dictates the tempo and has the ability to pick key passes from any position in the final third. His assist for Dzeko was a prime example, a wonderful floated ball that took out the entire Newcastle defence and landed right where the Bosnian wanted it. It was a fleeting moment of individual brilliance, a beautiful piece of skill appreciated by everyone inside the Etihad.

He started on the left yesterday, which is where Manuel Pellegrini selects him when playing two upfront, but he never restricts himself to a wide role. He instinctively drifts inside, occupying positions between the lines where it’s most difficult to pick him up. He is most effective as a No. 10, but his flexibility when starting out wide makes him effective on the left, too.

The desire to drift makes it so difficult to mark him effectively. He floats into central areas, dragging defenders with him and creating space in the process. Rarely has it been quite as marked as it was against Newcastle, who simply couldn’t get hold of him.

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And the two goals he chipped in with were both of high quality. He now has nine league goals this season—the best haul of his career thus far. One of the few criticisms of Silva’s game in recent seasons has been that he doesn’t score enough, but this campaign has seen an upturn in his strike rate.

His first came after a sweeping City move involving Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri, with the ball eventually finding its way to Silva in the box. His two quick touches and neat finish before any Newcastle defender could make a challenge were wonderful—a goal of the highest order in terms of its efficiency and precision.

The second was arguably even better, a first-time strike after Aguero’s chest down that gave Tim Krul little chance. Silva’s shooting from distance is often criticised, but this was undeniably good.

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On this kind of evidence, it’s a wonder why there is even a debate as to who City’s most important attacking player is. Silva orchestrates everything going forward, the man the other players in blue look to for inspiration.

With City now just five points behind Chelsea, the title race may just be back on. And if City are to string together the kind of run they need to make a proper challenge, Silva’s form and fitness is going to be key.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.