West Ham vs Man City result: Raheem Sterling hat-trick inspires champions to thrash Hammers
Re-live the action as the reigning Premier League champions got their title defence off the an emphatic start
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Manchester City got their Premier League title defence off to the perfect start as Raheem Sterling scored a hat-trick in their 5-0 demolition of West Ham United at the London Stadium.
The home side's resilience was broken in the 25th minute when Gabriel Jesus was able to poke the ball home from close range after stealing in ahead of Issa Diop, and although the Hammers were able to see out the rest of the first half just a goal down, the floodgates opened after the break.
Sterling scored his first goal soon after the restart and doubled his personal tally soon after, although they sandwiched a slice of Premier League history as the first VAR-overturned decision took place when Jesus had his second ruled out, with Sterling's armpit judged to be offside. Sterling soon looked to have the chance to go for his hat-trick, only for substitute Sergio Aguero to take it and see his effort saved by West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
But Fabianski was judged to be off his line, and Aguero breathed a sigh of relief as he tucked away the retake. Sterling would have one last chance though and wrapped up his hat-trick in the dying seconds to get City off to the dream start. Re-live the action below.
What time does it start?
West Ham vs Manchester City kicks off at 12:30pm on Saturday 10 August.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on BT Sport 1 from 12pm.
Teams
West Ham: Fabianski, Fredericks, Diop, Balbuena, Cresswell, Wilshere, Rice, Antonio, Lanzini, Felipe Anderson, Haller.
Subs: Zabaleta, Hernandez, Snodgrass, Roberto, Sanchez, Fornals, Ogbonna.
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko, De Bruyne, Rodri, Silva, Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus, Sterling.
Subs: Bravo, Gundogan, Aguero, Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo, Otamendi, Foden.
6: Rodri loses possession to Lanzini on the edge of the area and then appears to bring down the Argentine in the box. The ball truckles out and Mike Dean gives a goal kick after a very quick message from the VAR boys in his ear.
8: This isn't really the start we expected from Manchester City here, they haven't really got going, There's not a great deal of quick passing in the middle and it's West Ham getting into better areas at the minute.
9: Mahrez does Mahrez things and weaves his way in from the right to force a save from Fabianski, who did well to beat away a low, powerful effort that bounces just in front of him.
12: A quick review of the quick VAR review.
Well done, Premier League.
Mike Dean was quickly told that there was nothing in Rodri's challenge on Lanzini in the penalty area and play was back underway without any real delay.
15: Oooh, that was very close.
Silva drags a left-footed effort just wide after quickly shifting the ball from one foot to another to give him space to shoot. Fabianski had a lot of ground to make up to get towards the ball and is very pleased to see that effort from outside the box trickle wide.
17: We love training ground set-pieces, but we love it even more when they go wrong. That's what's just happened to Manchester City, who have blown a wide free-kick by quickly passing it to absolutely nobody in the box...
18: West Ham embark on a speedy counter attack, but it breaks down as Antonio gets himself in a tangle with Laporte. The home side had the numbers to trouble City there.
20: Time to talk about Haller. It looks like West Ham have signed a brilliant striker who has wasted no time in settling into his new team and has taken to the Premier League perfectly. His hold-up play has been first-class, helping his seamless link-up play with Lanzini.
22: Don't do that, Cresswell! He slides to block Mahrez's shot, but the winger sees it coming and cuts inside onto his left foot and drags an effort inside the area wide. You can't let him onto his preferred side!
City take the lead!
Kyle Walker takes off with brilliant pace on the right and fires a low cross to the six-yard box and Gabriel Jesus turns it in.
Cresswell was caught out by Walker's express-speed and Jesus was tightly marked in the middle, but somehow manages to turn the ball in after Diop can't clear it at the front post.
That's some message from Walker to Cancelo.
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