Sterling’s brace keeps Man City unbeaten
Raheem Sterling scored twice to ensure Manchester City continued their 100 per cent start to the Premier League season with a 3-1 victory over West Ham on Sunday.
Fernandinho grabbed the other before Michail Antonio’s consolation at the Etihad Stadium as an impressive City side held off a West Ham fightback to move above Chelsea and Manchester United to go top.
Sergio Aguero, though, could yet face retrospective action from the FA after he appeared to aim an elbow at West Ham defender Winston Reid.
City were ahead inside seven minutes as they quickly stamped their authority on a much-changed West Ham side. Slaven Bilic had opted to switch his formation to 5-3-2 following their Europa League defeat to Astra Giurgiu on Thursday, but the tie didn’t start as he would have planned.
David Silva started a wonderful move for the home side, roaming through the West Ham defence before finding Nolito out wide on the left.
The Spain international cut a cross behind the West Ham back-line to Sterling, who found the corner of the net for City’s first of the game and his first of the season.
Guardiola’s side continued to apply the pressure on a lacklustre West Ham side after their opener, and it only took another 11 minutes for them to double their lead.
A simple free kick on the right flank was whipped in perfectly by Kevin De Bruyne, and Fernandinho was there to rise highest and power a header past a helpless Adrian to score his first goal in nearly a year.
As the second half got underway, it appeared the match was only heading in one direction as City continued to pepper Adrian’s goal.
Arthur Masuaku – much improved from previous performances in the West Ham defence – lifted a cross from the left towards the back post, where Antonio was waiting. Peeling off Gael Clichy to outjump Nicolas Otamendi, the former Nottingham Forest winger headed past Willy Caballero to make it 2-1.
Back on the pitch, City were able to confirm their win with just two minutes remaining in added time. Sterling was the best player on the pitch on Sunday, and it was fitting that he secured the result.
Silva hit the post seconds before the goal, and he was again at the centre of play as he set up Sterling for his goal. The England forward collected the ball before taking it round Adrian to finish from the tightest of angles and City ended the game 3-1 winners.
