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As Manchester City traveled to the London Stadium to begin their title defense, the reigning Premier League champions registered a comprehensive 5-0 victory against a hapless West Ham side.
The Cityzens sealed an unprecedented domestic treble last season and kicked off their Premier League campaign a convincing win away from home.
Raheem Sterling was in the thick of the action once again as his brilliant treble spearheaded Manchester City to a routine victory.
The Englishman carried on from where he left off last season and the likes of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus also got on the score-sheet.
Club record signing Rodri also started in the center of the park alongside David Silva and Kevin de Bryune and Joao Cancelo, the club's most recent recruit, was an unused substitute.
Sebastien Haller and Pablo Fornals also made their competitive debuts for West Ham as the Hammers failed to make an impression in the game.
As the treble winners go their season underway with a morale boosting victory, let's look at three reasons why they ran out comprehensive 5-0 winners.
#1 Raheem Sterling leads from the front
Raheem Sterling is arguably one of the most improved players under Pep Guardiola and narrowly missed out on the PFA Player of the Year award to Virgil van Dijk last season.
The 24-year-old, fresh from his heroics in City's treble winning season, lead from the front in Aguero's absence and spurred his team on to a convincing victory.
With Leroy Sané out with a long-term injury and Aguero lacking match practice, Gabriel Jesus led the line with Riyad Mahrez and Sterling either side of him.
Starting from the left flank, Sterling latched on to a brilliantly weighted pass from de Bruyne to get his name on the score-sheet and went on to register two more in the second half.
Sterling is going to be central to Manchester City's plans once again as they aim to compete on all fronts this season.
#2 Kevin de Bruyne gives a timely reminder of what the Cityzens missed last season
Kevin De Bruyne was reduced to sporadic appearances last season as he was constantly hampered by injuries but the Belgian midfielder returned to run the show for Manchester City.
The 28-year-old gave a timely reminder of his qualities as he pulled strings in the center of the park as he always does.
Manchester City completed a historic domestic treble with De Bruyne featuring sporadically and with the Belgian back to full fitness, the Cityzens are a frightening proposition and have all bases covered.
De Bruyne lasted 80 mins and was substituted in favor of Ilkay Gundogan and the Belgian went off to a rapturous reception from City faithful.
The man famously dubbed as Manchester City's assist king during the 2018/19 season, was back doing what he does best as his beautifully weighted pass was converted brilliantly by Raheem Sterling in the second half.
De Bruyne's form will come as a welcome boost for Pep Guardiola as City covet an unprecedented hat-trick of Premier League titles.
#3 West Ham looked disjointed as a team
As Manuel Pellegrini's side went into the new season with a renowned sense of optimism and hope, they were brought crashing down to earth as the reigning Premier League champions ran riot in the London Stadium.
The Hammers never got going and failed to make an impression in the game, as Manchester City overcame a slow start to register a comprehensive 5-0 victory.
Sebastien Haller, the club's record signing, spearheaded the attack and although he put in a shift, he was largely left isolated upfront.
The Frenchman was lively in the opening stages of the game but faded as the game progressed as the Londoners were pegged back by Manchester City's brilliance in the final third.
West Ham looked disjointed all throughout the pitch, especially at the back as Manchester City ran riot in the second half to register a comprehensive victory.
Pellegrini's men need to work on their shortcoming and the new signings need to get going quickly if there are to have a successful season.
