RAHEEM’S A GOLDEN WONDER Pep: Sterling will rise in value this term

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PEP GUARDIOLA is backing freescoring Raheem Sterling to continue his explosive start to the season as the Manchester City winger prepares to face his favourite team.

Sterling has hit four goals in the first two games of the campaign for the champions.

Chances

And the England international will fancy his chances of finding the back of the net again against Bournemouth today after scoring eight times in seven previous games against the Cherries.

Sterling’s odds of winning the Premier League’s Golden Boot have already been slashed to 5/1 by some bookmakers, making him third favourite for the award behind Harry Kane and Mo Salah.

And Guardiola said: “Normally it is not easy for wingers to score goals because they tend to work further away from the goals.

“But Raheem moves from side to side so well and he has an incredible sense of getting into the box with the right tempo to score when the ball is coming from the opposite side. He is fantastic at that.

“Raz can also play centrally and all his movements are towards the goal – and for a winger, or even a striker, that is incredible.

“Some players play well, but forget the goal is there. But Raheem always has a sense where the goal is and knows that if he attacks that space he can score.

“If he can win (the Golden Boot) of course I will congratulate him.”

Memorable

Sterling scored a memorable winner in City’s 2- 1 victory at the Vitality Stadium two years ago, when his scuffed injury-time effort saw him sent off after picking up a yellow card for his frenzied celebration with supporters.

Guardiola’s men then embarked on an 18-game winning run as they lifted the title with a 100-point haul.

And after being forced to settle for a 2-2 home draw against Tottenham last week, despite having 30 efforts on Hugo Lloris’ goal, the City boss knows his men must be more clinical with chances. Guardiola refuses to let his players use the new VAR regulations as an excuse for dropping points.

Gabriel Jesus had a last-minute strike ruled out after replays showed the ball brush the hand of defender Aymeric Laporte.

But Guardiola said: “We can discuss the handball - and even today I think ‘oh my God’ – but we did not win not for that reason.

“We had 10 shots on target and a lot of others were cleared, but we only scored two goals.

“We created the chances to do it – but then you have to do it.

“We must work on things we can control – and we can’t control VAR.”