City masterclass as Hammers for four
arrived. But this was not a fair fight. West Ham’s players are not in the same class and the gulf was evident throughout the game, although their manager was upset at how quickly the game was up.
“Unfortunately for us, we were very weak in defending the first three goals,” he moaned. “City can score three because they have very good players but those kind of goals were too easy.
“It is hard to say if City are going to win the title. They will be a team involved in every competition.
“They have a very good team and they are playing very well. But it is difficult to feel what will happen in six months.”
Pellegrini had promised that his new team would attack his old one, but the Hammers had already survived one letoff when the Champions went ahead.
The ball was worked serenely out to Sterling on the right, before his cross took a deflection off Arthur Masuaku.
The little magician David Silva was quickest to react and he just guided the loose ball past Lukasz Fabianski.
Having set up one, Sterling then applied the finishing touch as City went two up as he tapped in at the far post from Sane’s low ball across.
The home side could have halved the deficit almost immediately, but Michail Antonio fired straight at Ederson from a promising position inside the box.
However, the threat was a brief one and there was a feeling of slow motion as the visitors scored their third.
Fernandinho picked out Sterling with a delightful chipped pass.
The England winger wasn’t offside and squared for Sane, who put Federico Balbuena on his backside before side-footing past a helpless Fabianski.
West Ham could have pulled one back just before the hour-mark as substitute Javier Hernandez slipped in Antonio, who beat Ederson, but struck the outside of a post.
The rest of the game was played at walking pace, but Sane applied the finishing touch with the last kick as he volleyed past Fabianski for his second of the day and fourth in three games.