Sterling is just the trick for slick City
Pep’s men too hot to handle for Brighton
SO much for keeping a low profile before court. I f conventional wisdoms suggest a quiet walk to the dock, what to make to make of a side assembled for half a billion quid turning up and dancing like this on their penultimate night of freedom?
It was quite something. Masterful, in fact. Though how far you go on that march depends on your point of view and at this stage, all opinions on Manchester City rank a distant second to those held within the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
What they decide tomorrow is everything. Everything i n the context of City’s rampage and expansion plan for Europe; everything in t he context of financial rules and who can do what. There are many who believe enough is enough, that playing fields need to be flatter and this was a night for them to pipe up.
Just as it was when City slapped Newcastle for five the other night. Just as i t has been on the 18 occasions, including this one, when in one competition or another they have won a game this season by three or more goals.
Which is not to say City are the only side who have spent big, or to detract from performances like this. When they come, even against opposition that lack the intensity of a serious relegation fight, they are special. Astonishing, actually. Five goals and it should have been more Three went for Raheem Sterling, whose 27 goals this season is a personal record and two more were split between Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva.
Again, it is a matter of perspective. Do you want to see masters at work? Or would you prefer a scenario where the haves do not have quite so much? Tomorrow’s s verdict, deciding on whether to uphold City’s Champions League ban, will have a huge bearing on how future discussions on the theme play out.
For that reason it is s academic that City got the win that guaranteed nteed their place in the t top f four. More important to Pep Guardiola is that they maintained their speed on the runway towards the conclusion of their active interests, the FA Cup and Champions League. With the League Cup already won, this disappointing league campaign could yet be forgotten in the blaze of a treble.
Happy thoughts that might still survive what plays out in court.
If it does go south for City, it is no great leap to assume they will find only limited pools of sympathy. They have spent tremendous sums of money in building this squad, evidence of which was carved deep into this line-up.
Consider Guardiola’s back four here; he swapped in an entirely different defence to the one that kept a clean sheet against Newcastle and among them three of the men cost more t than £50 million each. He also brought in Sterling and Bernardo Silva in a rotation of six m men that said ev everything about the dep depth money can buy. In the event, Brighton s t arte arted well. A bi t of pressure came down the right and a burst from Martin Montoya drew a quick corner if nothing else. But even inside five minutes City had a hold of sorts on the game.
If Jesus was sharper with his finishing, an ‘if ’ that has lingered this season, maybe they would have had an early lead. Instead, with a free header, albeit a tricky one, he fluffed the connection and missed the target.
Benjamin Mendy also had a shot nudged wide and Eric Garcia failed to take advantage when Mat Ryan lost the flight of a cross and allowed an excellent chance. Perhaps Ryan could have done better with the goal that quickly followed. While the lay off from Jesus was precise and Sterling did well with the two-touch shuffle that bought space from Montoya, his rolling shot from the edge of the area was probably stoppable.
Jesus put one against the bar 35 minutes in via Lewis Dunk’s ankle and Riyad Mahrez also missed a decent chance before Jesus got that second goal. The previous phase s a w Kyl e Wal k e r obliterate Bernardo for pace in the winning of a corner and from the set-piece Rodri won the high ball and flicked to the back post. Jesus got a toe to the ball to make it two.
The half might have been kinder to Brighton and Walker certainly appeared lucky to avoid conceding a penalty for a shoulder on Aaron Connolly, but the final shot count of 15-3 was fairly instructive.
Kevin De Bruyne opened the second half by cracking a free-kick against the post and Sterling headed for 3-0 off a Mahrez soon after.
Bernardo tapped the finish for the fourth after following up on his own shot, which Ryan had spilled back into traffic and Sterling soon completed his hat-trick.
I n chasing down a ball , he appeared to lose balance as the ball ricocheted into the air. It dropped down on to Sterling’s head and somehow he had the sixth hat-trick of his career.
BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Ryan 5, Montoya 5 (Lamptey 59min, 6), Webster 5, Dunk 5.5, Bernardo 5; Bissouma 6, Propper 5 (Stephens 59, 6); Gross 5 (Burn 78), Mooy 5; Trossard 5.5 (Jahanbakhsh 69, 6), Connolly 5.5 (Maupay 59, 6). Booked: Bissouma. Subs (not used): Duffy, Mac Allister, Murray, Button.
MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Emerson 7, Walker 7.5, Garcia 7 (Stones 72min, 6), Laporte 7, Mendy 6 (Zinchenko 63, 6); De Bruyne 8 (D Silva 63, 6), Rodri 7 (Fernandinho 72, 6), B Silva 6; Mahrez 7.5, Jesus 7.5 (Foden 63, 6), Sterling 8. Subs (not used): Otamendi, Carson, Doyle, Palmer. Referee: G Scott (Oxfordshire) 7.