Yaya Toure, David Silva put on a clinic as Manchester City slices West Brom to shreds

At least one of the perennial powerhouse clubs was ready for the beginning of the new Premier League campaign.

Manchester United looked lethargic in its victory over Tottenham, the latter likely deserving to win the opening contest of the season. Chelsea conceded twice, at home, en route to a draw with Swansea City. Arsenal was stunned by West Ham.

Does any team actually want to live up to its tag as a preseason title favourite, supporters and pundits alike asked aloud?

Manchester City answered that in the affirmative Monday evening. Emphatically so.

The Citizens kicked off their 2015-16 season with a dominant performance at The Hawthorns, getting a pair of goals in the opening half from Yaya Toure en route to a 3-0 victory over a severely overmatched West Brom side.

The Ivorian star, criticized for a subpar campaign a year ago, looked energized and refreshed, commandeering the midfield in a matter that brought back memories of the 2013-14 season, when he was a one-man wrecking crew that led City to the Premier League crown.

Though his first tally of the evening had an air of luck to it, trickling agonizingly over the line after a big deflection off an unfortunate West Brom defender, the 32-year-old turned on the style for his second goal of the contest, smashing a 20-yard curler into the top corner.

With the help of David Silva, the diminutive midfield wizard who spun his magic all match long as the West Brom defenders watched, almost bewildered at the Spaniard's impeccable ball control, Toure and the rest of the Citizens cruised to a straightforward win to begin the season.

Captain Vincent Kompany, himself looking to bounce back from last season's struggles, added a third goal in the 59th minute to put the match out of doubt, and turn everyone's attention to next weekend's clash of the titans against Chelsea.