Nigeria international, Kelechi Iheanacho was completely dropped from the Manchester City team that pummeled West Ham Utd 4-0 at London Stadium.
Iheanacho place in the team is increasingly dimming following the arrival of Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus who scored his first Manchester City goal.
City, who left striker Sergio Aguero and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo on the bench, led when Kevin de Bruyne played a one-two with Jesus before stroking home.
Four minutes later, they doubled their lead when the impressive Leroy Sane beat two defenders and his deflected cross was tapped home by David Silva.
And the game was as good as won before half-time when Raheem Sterling squared the ball to Jesus to tap home.
Yaya Toure added a fourth after the break from a penalty when Hammers debutant Jose Fonte brought down Sterling.
West Ham, who made errors to lose possession for each of City’s three first-half goals, have been beaten heavily by City twice at home in 2017, having lost 5-0 in their FA Cup meeting last month.
City are now only behind fourth-placed Liverpool on goal difference, 10 points behind leaders Chelsea.
Sergio who? City’s front three shine
City boss Pep Guardiola revealed before the game that he had decided to stick with goalkeeper Willy Caballero and his front three of Sterling, Sane and Jesus – all of whom started Saturday’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup.
And it worked in sensational style the trio – aged 22, 21 and 19 respectively – ripped the Hammers to shreds.
Jesus, making his first Premier League start following his £27m move from Palmeiras this month, assisted the opener as City broke from their own half at speed with De Bruyne. The Brazilian exchanged passes before the Belgian, who was also impressive throughout, guided the ball past Darren Randolph.
The second goal was made by Sane, who has recently hit form following a slow start after his £37m summer move from Schalke, with the German skinning two Hammers defenders and crossing, via a touch from Randolph, for Silva to tap home.
The dynamic front three all had a hand in the third, with Sane playing in Sterling, who passed the ball across goal for a Jesus tap-in.
Their second-half performance was still dominant albeit less sensational, perhaps because it did not need to be, but they got their fourth when Sterling was brought down by Fonte and Toure narrowly beat Randolph.
In goal, Caballero kept his third clean sheet of 2017, having only played three matches, in contrast to the benched Bravo, who had conceded the last six shots on target he had faced.
Hammers hammered again
West Ham have now conceded 12 goals to City this season, including nine in 2017 – all at London Stadium.
And while City were brilliant, the Hammers played a huge part in their own downfall.
Aaron Cresswell gifted the ball to City for their first, then lost a 50-50 before the second goal and Pedro Obiang gave the ball to Sane for the third. Centre-back Fonte marked his debut, following his £8m move from Southampton, by conceding a penalty for Toure’s second-half penalty.
They only forced Caballero to save the ball once – a simple fourth-minute stop from Michail Antonio.
Slaven Bilic’s side – who only had 30% possession – did have the ball in the net once, although Antonio was offside when he latched on to debutant Robert Snodgrass’s through ball to fire home.
Match stats – Toure maintains perfect record
- Gabriel Jesus became the first player to both score and assist a goal on their first Premier League start for Manchester City.
- Jesus also became the second youngest Brazilian player to score his first Premier League goal (19yrs 304days), after Rafael for Manchester United in November 2008 (18yrs 122days).
- David Silva scored his third away Premier League goal against West Ham – his highest tally of away goals against another opponent in the competition.
- West Ham have shipped four or more goals in three of their 12 Premier League games at London Stadium – the same number as in their final 106 top-flight games at Upton Park.
- Yaya Toure has scored all 11 of his Premier League penalties – the best 100% record in the competition.
- In his 50th Premier League game, Kevin de Bruyne recorded his 30th goal involvement in the competition (11 goals, 19 assists).
- City have scored nine goals in two games in all competitions at London Stadium – just half the number West Ham have (18) in 17 games there.
