The Mail on Sunday

STERLING’S REBOUND

Raheem back in the team and goals, just in time for the derby

- By Joe Bernstein

MANCHESTER CITY seem to enjoy their best spells when Raheem Sterling is fit and firing.

Yesterday, for Pep Guardiola’s 700th career game as a manager, Sterling started his first league game for a month, ended a run of six matches without a goal and also became the first player since the Premier League started to win 20 penalties, this one converted by Kevin De Bruyne.

After a stuttering start to the campaign, this was more like the City we’ve come to love as they chalked up consecutiv­e league victories for the first time this season, even if wasteful finishing meant they didn’t match last week’s 5-0 romp against Burnley.

While De Bruyne produced another midfield masterclas­s and Joao Cancelo provided an attacking threat from right back, it was Sterling who added pace, aggression and penetratio­n to the front line.

He has been hampered by a thigh problem and Guardiola’s team rotation in recent weeks but looked ready to join the party in time for next Saturday’s Manchesate­r derby at Old Trafford.

Ominously for their rivals, City are now close to the top of the Premier League having only just started to build momentum.

‘I saw positive things in the performanc­e,’ said Guardiola. ‘I am more than happy with how we played against Porto and today. We created enough and we will improve, we know it.’

On his two star players, the City boss added: ‘Kevin is the first guy who helped us to be intense without the ball. We pushed him forward to make moments. He showed personalit­y with the penalty and the pass to Raheem.

‘Raheem always tries for goals. I don’t have any doubts about what he has done so far. It is important for a striker to score a goal which he has done, which is good.’

Fulham looked content to keep the score down, with goal difference potentiall­y important in this season’s relegation scrap.

Aleksandar Mitrovic was held back on the bench and the best news of the day for Scott Parker was Burnley’s failure to beat Everton at lunchtime, which kept his side out of the bottom three.

‘City look ominous most weeks,’ eks,’ admitted the Fulham boss. ‘We We were disappoint­ed to go a goal down early on but my team showed courage for the way they stuck to it.

‘This City team can put you to the sword if they go a couple of goals up. There is no shame in losing.’

Breaking the deadlock early always helps and City did so after five minutes. Sterling had already been denied once by Alphonse Areola when he latched on to a clever pass from De Bruyne and had time to slip a low finish into the corner.

The little punch in the air was testimony to his delight at ending his mini-barren run.

City pushed forward to finish the contest early with De Bruyne pulling the strings. The Belgian, surprising­ly without a goal from open play this season, nearly caught out Areola at his near post but the French goalkeeper reacted to a deflection by palming for a corner. Ilkay Gundogan should have scored f r om Cancelo’s cross but blazed over before City added a second after 26 minutes. Cancelo was again the instigator with a raid that allowed Sterling into the box and saw him clipped by Joachim Andersen as he tried to wriggle through. I t was t he 20th Premier League penalty Sterling has earned, passing the record he had shared with Jamie Vardy at the start of play.

De Bruyne had missed his previous penalty, against Liverpool, but confidentl­y sent Areola the wrong way on this occasion. It was City’s 400th Premier League goal under Guardiola in his 162nd game — eclipsing Jurgen Klopp as the quickest manager to reach the milestone.

At 2-0, it was almost too easy for City and John Stones tried to liven things up with a backpass to Ederson without realising the Brazilian had strayed from his goal. Both were relieved it only cost a corner.

At the other end, the home side should have scored more. Riyad Mahrez scooped a pass to Sterling whose volley was parried by Areola. Sterling t hen had another strike blocked by Ivan Cavaleiro.

Gabriel Jesus has been unable t o get i n on City’s recent goal run and he was unselfish again when he set up De Bruyne, whose shot struck the crossbar from 12 yards. De Bruyne then missed a gol den opportunit­y when sent free by Mahrez with Areola making another splendid stop. Defender Ruben Dias also went close twice from set pieces.

After a slow start to the season, due to injuries and a hangover from their Champions League disappoint­ment in August, City are making progress with only Sergio Aguero still absent from their big-hitters.

Guardiola’s team have already qualified from their Champions League group so he will be able to rest key players against Marseille on Wednesday ahead of the derby. Interestin­gly, the City boss didn’t make any substituti­ons even though he has campaigned for the number of changes to be increased from three to five. ‘I decided to put 90 minutes in their legs and the others who rested can play on Wednesday. Then we can decide for United.’

 ??  ?? GOAL MACHINE: Sterling finishes from a tight angle, beating Alphonse Areola as City beat Fulham for a tenth time in a row, with an aggregate score of 29-3
PAYING THE PENALTY: Sterling is fouled by Joachim Andersen in the box to win his 20th spot kick in the top-flight— a new Premier League record
GOAL MACHINE: Sterling finishes from a tight angle, beating Alphonse Areola as City beat Fulham for a tenth time in a row, with an aggregate score of 29-3 PAYING THE PENALTY: Sterling is fouled by Joachim Andersen in the box to win his 20th spot kick in the top-flight— a new Premier League record

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