Sterling was in sensational form to register an unstoppable hat-trick, with Gabriel Jesus and substitute Sergio Aguero also in the goals.
Jesus opened the scoring before Sterling’s well-taken first strike, and the Brazil international had the ball in the net for a second time shortly after - only for his effort to be chalked off by the narrowest of offside decisions from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Aguero, making his first appearance of the season, had a penalty saved but was given a second crack of the whip after VAR adjudged West Ham stopper Lukas Fabianski to have been off his line.
The Argentine made no mistake and Sterling rounded off a perfect afternoon with City’s fifth to ensure Guardiola‘s side recorded a statement victory in their quest for a third-consecutive league title.
See the best of the action in the images below.
