City now is ahead of United and Chelsea on goal difference – and Guardiola said there is plenty more to come.
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Guardiola has won his first three games in charge of Manchester City, which is precisely how he began his time at Bayern Munich and some of the play was as breathtaking as anything he produced at the Allianz Arena.
A notable feature of Guardiola’s City side, additional to the fine passing, has been the impressive work rate of his players, and it was evident at various times in Sterling’s display here.
Thierry Henry has stated that Manchester City put in a poor second half performance during their victory over West Ham United on Sunday.
Arguably Guardiola’s biggest achievement in his first few months at Etihad Stadium is getting the best out of Sterling, who lost his place in the team at the end of last season – his first at City – and then had a poor European Championship campaign with England.
After the restart, Nolito had the ball in the net only for the “goal” to be ruled out for offside and came close once again with a shot into the side netting after yet another unsafe De Bruyne free-kick was only half-cleared.
He said: “You can’t say City didn’t deserve to win, but it was a game of two halves”.
David Silva, who was given all the freedom to roam in the middle of the pitch, broke forward and played the ball through the defence to Nolito, on the left side of the area.
The incident went unpunished by referee Andre Marriner and any retrospective disciplinary action could see him banned for games including the derby against Manchester United on September 10. Asked whether Reid had been elbowed in the throat, Noble said: “I know that he can’t talk in there so that must be the case”.
City’s first game after the worldwide break is a local derby at Old Trafford against Manchester United, both teams having won their first three Premier League games of the season.
Into injury time, and Silva’s drive cannoned back off a post with City recycling the ball and Silva and Nasri combining to free Sterling, who rounded Adrian.
“I didn’t see it so I can not comment”.
McClean was the main threat for the Baggies in the opening period, and had the chance of the half on 12 minutes, with his touch letting him down at the last, allowing Guzan to race from his line to smother in the Boro goal.
That must be a thrilling thought for their supporters when Leroy Sane, one of their expensive summer recruits, has not had the chance yet to demonstrate why Guardiola made him a priority signing.
City are running with it right now even if this was, to some extent, a game of two contrasting halves.
In the day’s instantly forgettable early contest, West Brom and Middlesbrough played out an exceptionally dour goalless draw at The Hawthorns that only served to highlight the desperate need for Tony Pulis to add significantly more flair to his workmanlike squad before Wednesday night’s transfer deadline.
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Cheikhou Kouyate – 4: Defended a little better in the second-half against a rampant home side but otherwise had little to offer.
