Manchester City vs Watford result: Raheem Sterling’s hat-trick swats aside Hornets after controversial ‘offside’ goal

Title races as close as this one are often won and lost by fine margins, so how many in Manchester and Merseyside will wonder ‘what if’ about Raheem Sterling’s first of three goals?

Manchester City will end a difficult week on top of the Premier League table after this deserved 3-1 victory over Watford, courtesy of a 13-minute hat-trick by the sublime Sterling. The champions are now four points clear of Liverpool, who play Burnley at Anfield on Sunday.

Yet Javi Gracia - and perhaps also Jurgen Klopp - will ask what might have been had Sterling’s controversial first been ruled out for offside. The assistant initially flagged but, after some delay, was overruled by referee Paul Tierney.

A touch by Daryl Janmaat, attempting to block the pass to Sterling, had proved crucial. Watford had defended well up to that point, the opening minute of the second half, but quickly fell apart once behind.

That being said, City deserved to take all three points after a typically dominant home display. Gerard Deulofeu found a consolation for the visitors immediately after coming on as a substitute but they offered little else.

Gracia had clearly come for a point, naming a much-changed line-up from last week’s win at Leicester City, and he will claim he could have left with one had the contentious opener not stood.

Watford made a total of seven changes, with next weekend’s FA Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace in mind. The likes of Troy Deeney, Deulofeu and Jose Holebas were all among the substitutes.

City, meanwhile, were missing Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones and Fernandinho but Riyad Mahrez was rewarded for his winner at Bournemouth with a place in the starting line-up and he almost fashioned an early breakthrough.

After stepping inside onto his left foot, the Algerian span a devilish cross around Watford’s backline and towards David Silva, who connected with a diving header which dropped inches wide of the far post.

Guardiola described Watford as “tenacious” in his programme notes and it was proving to be a fair assessment. Gracia’s visitors had an answer to almost everything City threw at them in the opening 45 minutes but on the half hour mark, they should have fallen behind.

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Sergio Aguero started the day with 10 goals in his last six appearances against Watford, including two hat-tricks, but spurned a chance to score an 11th when he headed Bernardo Silva’s cross wide when six yards out and in space.

It would be City’s best chance of the half against a visiting side whose excellent defensive work was best illustrated not long after the Aguero chance. Janmaat’s inch-perfect recovery tackle inside the penalty area on Sterling, who had briefly breached Watford’s backline.

Janmaat and Sterling would clash again at the start of the second half though and Watford’s hard work would suddenly be undone. The City winger was clearly in offside position when he received Aguero’s lay-off and was correctly flagged after slotting past Ben Foster.

But following much deliberation with the assistant in question, Tierney awarded a goal. Janmaat, it appeared, had touched the ball on to Sterling while attempting to block the Aguero’s chested pass.

Was this touch a deliberate attempt to play the ball? The Watford players argued not but Tierney’s mind was made up. City led in controversial circumstances and their opponents quickly collapsed.

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Sterling scored his second moments after the re-start, converting Mahrez’s square ball into the six-yard box having found space at the far post. No doubt about it, this time. He had remained in an onside position.

And though the controversy of Sterling’s first provided this game’s major talking point, the brilliance of his third should not be overlooked.

Sterling got the better of Janmaat this time, peeling off then darting behind to pick up Silva’s through ball. A cut inside allowed him to beat the full-back and Christian Kabasele before lifting the ball over Foster.

Gracia responded by bringing both Deeney and Deulofeu on and in the very next passage of the play, the two substitutes combined for a consolation goal.

After a long Foster punt upfield, Kompany was too easily beaten in the air by Deeney. Nicolas Otamendi then failed to follow up the second ball and allowed Deulofeu to convert past a diving Ederson with his first touch.

There would be no dramatic comeback, though. City controlled the remainder, ensuring they would put pressure on Liverpool to match their three points, thanks both to Sterling’s brilliance but also a slice of good fortune.