RAHEEM Sterling scored twice as Manchester City defeated West Ham 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium to go top of the Premier League.City made it three wins from three Premier League matches under new manager Pep Guardiola, and for 45 minutes it was like watching Barcelona as the home side tore apart Slaven Bilic’s injury-hit visitors.
City were 2-0 up after only 18 minutes, with Sterling drilling home the opener on eight minutes from a Nolito cut back, and Fernandinho heading home a second 10 minutes later from a sumptuous Kevin De Bruyne free-kick.
But it was the interplay that stood out as much as the goals – sharp one-touch passing between Nolito, David Silva and De Bruyne, and the pace and penetration of Sterling.
At the back, John Stones was happy to step into midfield and build play up from the back like a Yorkshire Gerard Pique. But when England defender Stones limped off just after the break, the tempo of the game changed. Bilic was alert enough to take advantage, and when Michail Antonio headed home Arthur Masuaku’s deep cross on 58 minutes, it looked like game on.
But City fought back as West Ham legs grew heavy in the closing stages, and Sterling took advantage in injury-time with a delicate finish from the angle from Silva’s pass.