The champions responded brilliantly to Liverpool’s win over Norwich on Friday with Raheem Sterling grabbing a hat trick to continue last season’s impressive form.
Fresh from leading Algeria to African Cup of Nations glory, Riyad Mahrez started brightly, cutting in from the right to hit a powerful shot towards goal which was palmed away for a corner by Lucasz Fabianski in the 9th minute.
The champions had their noses in front in the 24th minute when Gabriel Jesus flicked Kyle Walker’s cross past Fabianski for the opening goal of the game.
Last season’s Football Writers Association player of the year, Raheem Sterling, benefited from Kevin de Bruyne’s slide rule pass in the 51st minute to finish through the keeper’s legs for a City second goal.
With VAR making its debut in the Premier League, the champions were denied a third goal by the technology two minutes later when Jesus tucked into an empty net but Raheem Sterling was adjudged to have been offside in the build-up.
City goalkeeper Ederson was virtually a spectator all game, but he reacted brilliantly when called into action, producing a brilliant double save, first from Javier Hernandez, then the rebound from Manuel Lanzini in the 73rd minute.
Sterling scored a third for Manchester City when he got on the end of Mahrez’s beautifully chipped pass to lift the ball over Fabianski with fifteen minutes to play.
Mahrez again caused havoc to the helpless West Ham defence when he was brought down by Issa Diop in the penalty box, and Aguero stepped up to send Fabianski the wrong way after his initial kick, which was saved, had been retaken for encroachment.
Sterling benefited from another Mahrez pass in stoppage time, and he finished brilliantly past Fabianski to complete his hat trick.
