First-half goals from Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne propelled Manchester City to a 2-0 Premier League victory over Fulham at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola‘s men made a lightning start to the encounter, with Sterling forcing an early save, before finding the net in the fifth minute, calmly slotting the ball into the corner after a perfect through ball from De Bruyne.

City looked hungry for goals, fresh from last weekend’s 5-0 victory over Burnley, and had a deserved second just before the half-hour mark, with De Bruyne firing in from the penalty spot after Sterling was fouled.

We began the second period with the same intensity and came within inches of a third after Gabriel Jesus laid the ball off for De Bruyne, whose powerful drive crashed back off the crossbar.

As the visitors began to open up, looking for a route back into the game, City countered with ferocity.

Riyad Mahrez played through De Bruyne, who raced through on goal but was expertly denied by Alphonse Areola, who came rushing off his line to narrow the angle.

Ruben Dias spurned a half-chance with 15 minutes to go, meeting De Bruyne‘s deep cross but the centre-back directed the ball wide of Areola’s right post.

City kept the ball for the remaining minutes and professionally saw out a well-deserved victory, the perfect present for Guardiola in his 700th game as a manager.

View the best images from the match via the gallery below...