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City beats West Ham 3-1 to keep pace with United, Chelsea

Raheem Sterling scored an early goal and struck again in second-half injury time to help Manchester City beat West Ham 3-1 in the English Premier League on Sunday.

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The England global endured a hard first season at City after his acrimonious £44million move from Liverpool and then failed to impress at Euro 2016.

Guardiola added: “When you see how many chances we created, they scored with their first chance”.

“We played here against Sunderland and controlled that game, but we were not brilliant like we were today”. Because they scored a goal in the only we can concede.

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City’s form at the start of the season has been even better than he could have expected.

“With so many players we are missing, I have to praise this team”.

“I have been fortunate enough to have already played at the new stadium with a different shirt”.

The second half saw Samir Nasri make his first appearance of the season in place of Nolito in the 75th minute, and the flaxen-haired Frenchman did his part in helping City seek a third, before Pep Guardiola took Aguero off for Fernando in an attempt to lock down the game in the final few minutes.

West Ham pulled one back out of nothing in the 58th minute when Arthur Masuaku produced a magical little shimmy to make space on the left flank and float a cross in towards the far post for Michail Antonio to head home and cut their deficit in half.

At least one ideal record will go when United plays City at Old Trafford in the first round of games after the worldwide break. The performance was good.

“Bon voyage, whether it’s coming or going, for a lifetime or just a day … to me, who is leaving, and all those team-mates who remain”.

“In Bucharest [in the Champions League] we played fantastic, but in the Premier League, we played only good in minutes against Sunderland and adapted well against Stoke, so – in the Premier League – yes [that first half was the best]. I am looking forward to that experience”.

He had been made aware of it, however, and accepted retrospective action and a ban could follow.

The Belgium global said: “I think the first half was really good”. “Hopefully nothing happens. If it happens, we accept and adapt”.

West Ham grabbed an unexpected lifeline on 57 minutes, however. I don’t know what it was about really, but I know he can’t really talk in there (dressing room). “He said it was because he had got something in the throat”.

Meanwhile Hammers boss Slaven Bilic lamented his side’s start to the match.

“I want to thank everyone for welcoming me”.

David Silva and Sterling were particularly lively and as Aguero won possession and brushed past Reid to shoot wide after just two minutes, it seemed the Hammers were in for a long afternoon.

City tried to sharpen up by sending on Samir Nasri, whose future under Guardiola is unclear, and the Frenchman nearly struck after being played in by Aguero only for Adrian to block his shot.

Albion manager Tony Pulis has said he wants five more players before Wednesday’s transfer deadline.

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Asked why the game changed following the goal, Guardiola said that his players allowed their emotions to take over.”In Bucharest we played incredible, but in the Premier League, we played maybe [our] best minutes”.

Manchester City - West Ham United