WEST BROMWICH (UK) – Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League table in emphatic fashion on Tuesday by crushing West Bromwich Albion 5-0 at the Hawthorns after a blistering first half display.
City, who scored three goals in the opening half hour, have 41 points, one more than rivals Manchester United who have also played 19 games and will return to the summit if they beat bottom club Sheffield United at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
German international Ilkay Gundogan scored twice and was at the heart of City’s hugely impressive display as Pep Guardiola’s side delivered the kind of football that took them to title wins in 2018 and 2019.
Gundogan put City ahead in the sixth minute, showing great control as he collected a pass from Joao Cancelo and curled a shot into the far corner.
Cancelo then made it 2-0 with another fine strike into the same corner, although West Brom were unhappy that the assistant’s flag was raised before he shot for an offside which was not confirmed by VAR, allowing the goal to stand.
The impressive Gundogan added his second and City’s third on the half-hour, when he robbed Romaine Sawyers on the edge of the box, danced past Dara O’Shea and fired home.
On the stroke of halftime, Riyad Mahrez made it 4-0 with a trademark strike, cutting in from the right and blasting a left-foot shot into the far top corner past goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
Mahrez turned provider after the interval, with his low ball across the face of the penalty area tapped in from close range by Raheem Sterling in the 57th minute.
It was City’s 11th straight victory in all competitions.