This archive report was first published on 10 August 2019.
Manchester City began their Premier League title defence in style, defeating West Ham 5-0 at the London Stadium on Saturday, August 10, 2019.
Raheem Sterling's hat-trick inspired the champions, who are bidding to become the second club in the Premier League era to win three successive titles.
Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring in the 25th minute, turning the ball past West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski from close range after a perfectly-weighted pass from Riyad Mahrez.
Then Sterling took over, replicating his dynamic form of last season with two classy finishes, the first set up by Kevin De Bruyne and the second after a brilliant double save from Ederson denied Javier Hernandez and Manuel Lanzini.
Substitute Sergio Aguero bagged City's fourth with a penalty after his first effort from the spot was saved, only for VAR to call for a retake after Fabianski came off his line too soon.
Sterling wrapped up his treble in the final moments, sealing City's five-star display in stoppage-time with a composed finish from Mahrez's pass.
