London (AFP)
Manchester City responded to Liverpool by winning the way on the West Ham field (5-0), thanks to a hat-trick of Raheem Sterling, Saturday on the first day of the Premier League.
If they started less well than the "Reds", winners 4-1 of Norwich promoted Friday night, the double champions of England ended their match with fanfare to finally do better than their main rivals for the title.
At the London Stadium, Pep Guardiola's team was a time shaken by "Hammers" very physical and present at the laundry, like their flagship rookie of the summer, the French striker Sebastien Haller. But the Mancunians broke everything late in the game, scoring three goals in the last quarter of an hour.
After two unsuccessful attempts by Mahrez (9, 23), the "Citizens" have finally opened the mark. Well launched by the Algerian, Walker has forcibly centered at the far post for Gabriel Jesus (25th).
The match then fell sharply, until the ride of De Bruyne early in the second period. The Belgian sank into the defense and shifted Sterling, who perfectly adjusted Fabianski for the 2-0 (51).
The Premier League then attended its first goal invalidated by the VAR (53). Served by a deflection of David Silva, Sterling centered for Jesus, who only had to push the ball into the goals. But the Brazilian, preferred to Aguero at kickoff, was in an offside position.
For Sterling, deprived of an "assist", it was only a postponement. Beautifully served by a small pass from Mahrez over the defense, the Englishman then won his duel against Fabianski (75th).
The VAR then came forward, while a penalty was confirmed for a foul on Rodri, then the referee again appealed to the video to re-shoot the penalty wasted by Aguero. The Argentinean did not miss his second chance (86th) to allow the "Citizens" to pass in front of the "Reds" unlike goals.
Sterling then shone one last time, on another decisive pass from Mahrez (90th + 1), just to show Liverpool why "City" was the defending champion.
© 2019 AFP