Manchester City have risen to the top of the Premier League table ahead of next month's Manchester derby after recording a 3-1 win over West Ham United at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon.
Michail Antonio hit back just before the hour as West Ham threatened to take two points away from the home side, but Raheem Sterling added his second of the match in second-half stoppage time to ensure that Pep Guardiola enjoyed a third straight Premier League success.
There were no real surprises in the Man City XI at the Etihad as Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, David Silva, Fernandinho and Nicolas Otamendi were among those that returned to the lineup following their Champions League exploits.
Joe Hart is widely expected to leave the Citizens in the latter stages of the transfer window, but the England international was on the bench against the Hammers, which left Wilfredo Caballero with the gloves once again.
As for West Ham, Mark Noble returned to skipper the team from midfield, while there was a full Premier League debut for Ashley Fletcher as the former Manchester United striker started in what was a 5-3-2 formation for the visitors.
As expected, the home side started on the front foot and came close to opening the scoring in just the third minute when Aguero wriggled free of Winston Reid before looking to pick out the bottom corner, but his effort was just wide of the post.
Man City, who were utterly dominant from the first whistle, took the lead in the seventh minute of action when Silva picked out Nolito down the left and the Spaniard's low cross was side-footed into the corner of the net by Sterling.
West Ham just could not get to grips with Man City's formation and they conceded a second in the 18th minute when Fernandinho rose unmarked inside the Hammers box to head an excellent Kevin De Bruyne corner past Adrian.
De Bruyne came close himself 10 minutes later when the Belgian sent a looping free kick towards the top corner, but it just missed the post and West Ham were given a second to breathe after a very difficult opening 30 minutes.
The away side's first opportunity of any note fell to Fletcher in the 31st minute, but the former Manchester United striker could only head wide of the post under pressure from Pablo Zabaleta, before De Bruyne had a powerful attempt deflected just wide of the post down the other end.
West Ham did manage to enjoy a period of possession in the latter stages of the first period, but Man City were still in control of matters at the Etihad as they entered the half-time break with a comfortable lead.
Man City had the ball in the back of the net for a third time early in the second period when Nolito converted from close range, but the home side's celebrations were cut short due to the offside flag, before the Spanish international curled one into the side-netting from outside the box.
West Ham were somehow back in the match just before the hour, however, when Antonio, who was pushed further forward at the break, rose at the far post to head a brilliant Arthur Masuaku cross into the top corner from close range.
Both managers made changes in the immediate aftermath as Aleksandar Kolarov was introduced for the home side and Manuel Lanzini made his return for West Ham, who began to ask more questions in the final third of the field.
Aguero had the chance to score a third for Man City in the 66th minute after breaking into the West Ham box, but the Argentine hit the side-netting as the away side stayed in the game approaching the final 20 minutes of action.
Aguero was then very fortunate to stay on the field as the striker appeared to throw his arm into the throat of West Ham defender Reid, who was forced off following the incident, which could bring retrospective action from the Football Association.
Man City came close to putting the game to bed in the 85th minute when Samir Nasri broke through on goal, but Adrian was on hand to make a smart save, before Sterling missed the post from close range.
It mattered little though as Sterling added his second in the 92nd minute when he rounded Adrian and threaded the ball into the back of the net to make sure of all the points for Guardiola's team.
Next up for Manchester City is the Manchester derby away to Jose Mourinho's Manchester United on September 10, while West Ham will host Watford on the same afternoon.
Matt Law
