Raheem Sterling has, unsurprisingly, topped the Sky Sports Power Rankings after GW1 of the Premier League, thanks to his opening day hatrick against West Ham United.
Manchester City thumped the Hammers 5-0 at the London Stadium, as Manuel Pellegrini watched his side start the 2019-20 campaign in the worst possible fashion.
Sterling attempted four shots, with each going on target as well as taking 49 touches and completing 26 passes on top of the three second-half goals he bagged.
It’ll come as no shock to reveal there were no West Ham players present in the top 50, but the club will be wanting to change that against Brighton & Hove Albion at the AMEX Stadium on Saturday.
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West Ham were simply taught a lesson in class on Saturday, and I’d go as far as saying most of the 11 on the pitch didn’t even play atrociously – City were *that* sublime. So what can Pellegrini’s men learn?
The full-backs need cover, especially against the top teams that provide a counter-attacking threat. It seems like the Hammers approached the game – against one of Europe’s best sides – with the mindset that they would control proceedings.
Yes, it’s fine to do that when you’re at home to lesser opposition, but against the back-to-back champions? I’d be very surprised if West Ham were comfortably beaten by Brighton this weekend; each and every player will want to make this right.
