Manchester City 3 West Ham 1: Raheem Sterling’s brace and Fernandinho’s goal send Pep Guardiola’s side top despite Michail Antonio header

MANCHESTER CITY went top of the Premier League table with a win over struggling West Ham but they could have lost Sergio Aguero for the massive upcoming derby with Manchester United in the process.

Raheem Sterling and Fernandino gave Pep Guardiola's men a comfortable lead inside 18 minutes, before Michail Antonio pulled one back for the Hammers who were fuming when Aguero got away with catching Winston Reid with his arm late on, before Sterling struck again.

Sterling continued his dramatic revival under Pep Guardiola by firing in the opener after just seven minutes, which took the former Liverpool man to one goal and three assists in his four games under the swarve Spaniard.

And Brazilian Fernandinho doubled the deficit 11 minutes later when he nodded in Kevin De Bruyne’s inch-perfect free-kick.

But Guardiola was left fuming after Antonio sneaked in at the back post and headed home a deep cross from Arthur Masuaku. And the visitors had a moan of their own when Reid took a flailing arm to the face before Sterling tapped in.

STATS, FACTS, GOALS AND LOLS:

• Manchester City pride themselves on their catering yet the Maine Road chippy across the road still thankfully does a roaring trade.
• Talking of which the food for the media here is second to none leaving most of the press wanting a kip before kick-off.
• Joe Hart shouldn’t feel too down about having the action picture of him in action taken down from outside the Etihad as it is all to do with rebranding. However, the club still can’t explain why there is not one image of Roberto Mancini anywhere inside or out at The Etihad.

• The people with the plum seats in this ground are sat just above the tunnel and behind the two dug outs. Not next season they are booted out those places to make way for a corporate area and a glass tunnel  so the big spenders can watch the players line up while they sip their champers.
• Away fans must love coming to The Etihad. The extension behind one end affords them seats over three tiers with great views. All adds to the atmosphere too.
• Joe Hart warmed up with Willy Caballero before the game and there certainly didn’t appear to be any problems with his passing, long or short range. Pigs do fly.
• The banner ‘Manchester Thanks you Sheikh Mansour’ is up every game here.  The owner has still only ever attended one game.

• Poor Slaven Bilic looks in real pain when he stalks around the technical area with this hip problem he has.
• Having the City women’s team play at the training ground stadium before yesterday’s kick off is a good idea with 1,900 watching the side win 2-0 against Reading before going over  to the main stadium for this game. City’s women lead the table by 13 points from Champions Chelsea who have three games in hand.
• The annoying talking sausage dog from those life insurance adverts now also trots around the digital boards at The Etihad, annoyingly.

THE BIG PICTURE:

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