Let’s take a look at the Premier League Player Ratings from the showdown between Manchester City and West Ham United.
Center-backs Ruben Dias and John Stones supplied the goals on Saturday afternoon to seal Manchester City a 2-1 win over West Ham United, and a 20th consecutive victory across all competitions.
Despite Sergio Aguero making his first start since October, City struggled to insert their usual dominance. The hosts dominated possession in the opening 45 minutes but were unable to create opportunities in the final third.
West Ham manager David Moyes had his players extremely disciplined at the back, and the results were spot on. The Hammers proved difficult to break down in the first half, heavily restricting the likes of De Bruyne or Aguero from making an impact. But one moment of magic was all the former needed to help break the deadlock at the Etihad.
It happened on the half-hour mark, with De Bruyne producing an absolute belter of a cross – with his weaker foot – from the right flank all the way to the back post for Ruben Dias to head in his first goal for the Citizens.
11 – No player has more Premier League assists this season than Kevin De Bruyne (11 – level with Harry Kane). Plate. #MCIWHU pic.twitter.com/O8YyRF25Sd
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 27, 2021
It was also De Bruyne’s 11th assist of the season and seemingly put Pep Guardiola’s men on course for a stunning 20th victory in a row.
To their credit, however, West Ham’s resolve didn’t waver. The visitors pushed hard for an equalizer, with Michail Antonio and Jesse Lingard both suffering near-misses, and got their goal.
Antonio was the hero by diverting a Lingard strike two minutes before the break to level the scoreline at 1-1. The English striker’s goal also meant City had conceded a league goal at home for the first time since December 15, and after 629 minutes of football.
629 – Manchester City have conceded their first Premier League goal at the Etihad since 15th December against West Brom, ending their run of 629 minutes without conceding on home soil in the competition. Breached. #MCIWHU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 27, 2021
Guardiola reaches a new career landmark
The second half began on a similar note to the first, as City struggled to break down the disciplined West Ham defense. Guardiola, therefore, replaced forwards Aguero and Torres with Gabriel Jesus and Phil Foden respectively. But it was another one of the manager’s center-backs in Stones who instead found the back of the net.
Riyad Mahrez superbly opened up space inside the box for Stones to smash the ball into the net with a first-time right foot shot for his fourth goal of the season.
500 – Manchester City’s victory against West Ham saw Pep Guardiola pick up his 500th victory in charge of a top-flight side in all competitions (Barcelona 179 wins, FC Bayern Munich 121, Manchester City 200). Historic. pic.twitter.com/M5kitGe9PI
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 27, 2021
The Citizens held on to their advantage for the rest of the match, securing a 20th win in succession, and Guardiola a 200th victory as the club’s manager and his 500th in charge of a top-flight club in all competitions.
City have now temporarily moved 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League table, while West Ham remain fourth for now.
Player ratings
Manchester City: Ederson (6); Walker (6), Stones (8), Dias (8), Zinchenko (7); De Bruyne (8), Fernandinho (7), Gundogan (5); Mahrez (7), Aguero (5), Torres (5).
Bench: Jesus (6), Rodri (6), Foden (6).
West Ham: Randolph (5); Diop (6), Dawson (6), Cresswell (6); Coufal (7), Soucek (7), Rice (6), Johnson (5); Fornals (7), Lingard (7); Antonio (7).
Bench: Benrahma (5), Bowen (6).
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