Manchester City made a flying start to its Premier League title defence as Raheem Sterling’s hat-trick inspired a 5-0 demolition of West Ham on Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s side is bidding to become just the second club in the Premier League era to win three successive titles.
After Liverpool laid down an early marker with a 4-1 win against Norwich in the season’s opening game on Friday, the champion responded with a swaggering display of its own at the London Stadium.
Jesus strikes
Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring to repay Guardiola's faith after the City manager picked him instead of the club’s record goal-scorer Sergio Aguero.
Sterling then took over, replicating his dynamic form of last season with two classy finishes.
Substitute Aguero netted City’s fourth with a penalty after his first effort from the spot was saved, only for VAR to call for a retake after Lukasz Fabianski came off his line too soon.
Sterling completed his treble in the final moments as City showed it has no intention of conceding early ground to European champion Liverpool, which finished just one point behind it last term.
Guardiola had admitted before kick-off that City might have to do even better than last season to fend off Liverpool. This was the perfect start as City made it nine successive opening day wins.
Meanwhile, Liverpool could be without inspirational goalkeeper Alisson Becker for a number of weeks after the Brazilian suffered a calf injury in Friday’s 4-1 thrashing of Norwich.
The European champion raced to a 4-0 lead before half-time. Norwich captain Grant Hanley’s hapless own goal afte just seven minutes set the tone for what could be a long season for the Canaries before Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Divock Origi netted as Liverpool shot out of the blocks.
However, the Reds’ joy was tempered when Alisson pulled up after kicking the ball clear from a routine goal-kick and needed support to limp off the field.
The results: Saturday: West Ham 0 lost to Manchester City 5 (Jesus 25, Sterling 51, 75, 90+1, Aguero 86-pen).
Friday: Liverpool 4 (Hanley 7-og, Salah 19, van Dijk 28, Origi 42) bt Norwich 1 (Pukki 64) .
