Manchester City stormed to their eighth successive victory in all competitions as Leroy Sane's brace capped a ruthless 4-0 demolition of West Ham on Saturday. Pep Guardiola's side were in clinical form in east London as the champions maintained their unbeaten start after 13 games of the Premier League season.
David Silva and Raheem Sterling struck in the first 19 minutes to put City in complete control. Germany winger Sane netted before the interval and again in the closing stages to ensure leaders City remain two points clear of second placed Liverpool. City have scored 19 goals in their last four games in all competitions, with their latest blitz serving as the perfect preparation for next week's Champions League clash at Lyon.
In this mood, it is hard to imagine who can stop City and their former manager Manuel Pellegrini, now in charge of West Ham, clearly had no answers. Pellegrini managed City for three seasons between 2013 and 2016, winning the title in 2014, the League Cup twice, and 100 of his 167 games in charge. The Chilean became the only non-European manager to win the Premier League, and only the second City manager to win two major trophies in one season. But his City team was nowhere near as potent as the Guardiola model. And for all West Ham's shortcomings, City worked as hard as ever to make the most of the openings presented to them. Sterling, whose previous appearance in a City shirt ended with him being admonished by Guardiola for showboating near the end of the 3-1 victory over Manchester United, was direct and creative, providing the final pass for Silva's and Sane's goals. West Ham had looked tentative and nervy even before City took the lead after 11 minutes, and they were largely spectators as Kyle Walker ran down the right.
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