City won 7-2 against Stoke City on Saturday and have now scored 29 goals from their opening eight top-flight fixtures, equalling the record set by Everton 123 years ago.

Guardiola's side have also scored 17 goals in their last three Premier League games at the Etihad Stadium -- only 20 fewer than the whole of last season's home fixtures.

"We are almost the same guys as last season, but now we have the feeling we are going to score a goal. Don't ask me why, because the principles, as I have repeated many times, are the same," the City boss told a news conference.

"Last season, we had that feeling we weren't going to score a goal, but now we've got it. We have the feeling that if we arrive, we will score a goal."

Despite conceding twice against Stoke -- both deflections that goalkeeper Ederson had no chance with -- City have the second best defensive record in the Premier League.

Only rivals Manchester United, with two, have conceded more than City's four but Guardiola says the whole team should take credit for their impressive statistics at each end of the pitch.

"I know there is a tendency to split attack and defence -- in football, you cannot," he added. "So when you attack well, you defend well, and when you defend well, you attack well.

"When you have the feeling you are going to score goals, you defend better. When you defend better in your actions, you are going to score more.

"Football is dynamic: attack, defend, attack, defend, in a row. That's why we have good statistics in those terms."

City's next clash is in the Champions League against Napoli, who top the table in Italy with a perfect record.

Guardiola has described them as one of the best three attacking clubs in Europe, but he refused to say whether his own team were among the other two to make up the list.

"This is not for me to say, it is better I don't say that," he said. "We are solid. Of course, the players have produced an outstanding performance, and the mood in the locker room and the training sessions is excellent."

Meanwhile, John Stones admitted he was left frustrated after City conceded twice in the victory over Stoke.

City conceded twice for the first time this season with a deflected Mame Biram Diouf and Kyle Walker own goal that goalkeeper Ederson had no chance of saving.

And Stones told reporters: "I know it's a cliche but getting the win and the three points, and scoring seven is massive [but] we conceded two goals which is frustrating from my point of view.

"We will go away and work on that and I think it's been a great run of defensive play from all of us and I think we showed that yesterday.

"It was a bit of an unlucky first goal which was a bit of a sickener really because we have been playing so well and I think from the past previous games we have kept clean sheets and done so well defensively and brought that into the game.

"But that gets overshone with conceding two. As a back four and a keeper we have shown real progress."

City had kept four clean sheets in their previous four games and all without captain Vincent Kompany, who has been missing with a calf injury.

Stones is hoping the Belgian will return soon to add more competition to the back four, particularly with full-back Benjamin Mendy ruled out for another six months.

"I think the strength in depth in the squad is massive. Even when Vinny is fit he is playing but if not there is healthy competition which is great," he added.

"Vinny has great experience of playing and knows the club inside out and we all kind of bounce off each other which is great and we want Vinny back as quick as possible."

Including Stones, three of City's defenders against Stoke were English with Fabian Delph and Kyle Walker playing as full-backs.

Walker claimed an assist for Gabriel's opener to add his great cross for England in the World Cup qualifying 1-0 win over Slovenia a week earlier. Stones is impressed at how quickly the former Spurs defender has quickly settled at the Etihad Stadium.

"The way he gets up and down the pitch is why for me he's probably the best in the world and I keep telling him that," Stones said.

"He wants to keep winning, keep on keeping clean sheets and getting better. That's why he's the player he is and the person he is, he wants to keep on getting better.

"I think it's down to the team, if he's so high there is always back to cover his position. It's down to the manager and players to ensure that happens and at the moment it all gels quite well together."