Man City puts boots to West Ham

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City’s players looked like they could score at will in their latest big win over West Ham.

Manchester United couldn’t even manage one goal against Hull.

On an evening of contrasting fortunes in the Premier League for the Manchester giants’ expensive strikeforces, City thrashed West Ham 4-0 away to close the gap on its rivals for Champions League qualification and United was held to a 0-0 draw by a team that started the game in last place.

City was the only member of the top six to win in the mid-week round of fixtures and moved level on points with fourth-place Liverpool with 15 games left this season. United is in sixth place, four points adrift of the top four after a third straight draw for Jose Mourinho’s side.

While Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba were getting frustrated at Old Trafford, Gabriel Jesus was leading City’s dismantling of West Ham on his first start for the team after being picked ahead of Sergio Aguero in what could be seen as a nod to the future.

West Ham 0, Manchester City 4

De Bruyne began City’s latest London Stadium rout by sweeping home a finish in the 17th minute from Gabriel Jesus’ pass.

Silva tapped in at the far post in the 21st after a driving run by Sane and Jesus got his first City goal in the 39th when he slotted home Sterling’s cross. Sterling was tripped by Jose Fonte — making a miserable debut for West Ham after his move from Southampton — and Toure, as usual, made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Manchester United 0, Hull 0

Mourinho said it was a case of “deja vu” after another visiting team managed to stifle United at Old Trafford, following Burnley and Stoke in the first half of the season.

Jakupovic showed some brilliant reactions for his saves off Pogba, one in each half, and low down from substitute Mata, although Ibrahimovic was left unimpressed by the Hull goalkeeper.

Stoke 1, Everton 1

Peter Crouch became the 26th player to score 100 goals in the Premier League when he scored from close range in the seventh minute to put Stoke ahead. He marked the occasion by pulling out his old ‘robot’ dance.

Everton earned a point because of a 39th-minute own goal by Ryan Shawcross, who turned in a cross from Seamus Coleman.