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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Your support makes all the difference.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.
Sterling on VAR
"It’s a bit difficult during a game because you want your goal to stand as long as the decision is right, that’s all that matters."
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The report
Manchester City found themselves stuck in pre-season mode, but against a West Ham side afraid to attack even that was enough to record the first of many thumping wins this season
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