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Reigning champions Manchester City secured a valuable victory against in-form side West Ham at a snowy Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandinho helped the Citizens score twice. Manuel Lanzini pulled one back for West Ham in the dying moments of the game.
Manchester City and West Ham are both in superb form so far in the Premier League campaign. Pep Guardiola's men kept the pressure on league leaders Chelsea with a hard fought win while the Hammers are still fourth in the table. City are now just one point off the top with Chelsea's 1-1 draw against Manchester United.
West Ham gave their all in difficult conditions at the Etihad Stadium. However, two consecutive defeats left David Moyes' side level on points with fifth-placed Arsenal.
City dominated proceedings by keeping the ball, with Gundogan giving them the lead in the 33rd minute of the game. Snowfall caused delays at the start of the second half but City saw off the Hammers' late push for an equalizer.
Fernandinho's strike in the 90th minute sealed the game with Lanzini getting the consolation goal for West Ham.
On that note, let's take a look at
Manchester City's 5 best players against West Ham
Special mention: Fernandinho, who was City's second goalscorer, spent just eight minutes on the pitch.
#5 Ruben Dias
Ruben Dias started alongside partner-in-crime Aymeric Laporte and had an almost perfect game. At the heart of Manchester City's defense, the Portuguese was flawless. However, a late consolation goal from Lanzini in 94th minute ruined Dias' 10/10 outing against West Ham.
Dias grew in confidence as the match progressed, stamping his authority with his towering presence. The centre-back registered two tackles, had 90% pass accuracy and won four out of seven ground duels. Dias had the perfect match, keeping the likes of Lanzini and Pablo Fornals in check.
#4 Bernardo Silva
Bernado Silva had another great match but was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet. The Portuguese midfielder consistently knocked on West Ham's defense, showing urgency to get things moving in the final third.
Silva troubled West Ham defenders with his immaculate passing and supreme link-up play. The 27-year-old was the fulcrum of the Manchester City team and was the one connecting the midfield with the attack.
Silva had 89% passing accuracy and won 50% of the duels throughout the game.
#3 Rodri
Rodri has established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders with Manchester City. He once again showed his caliber against West Ham. What separates Rodri from his peers is his knack for having an impact on the attack, making him a complete package in midfield.
Rodri operated primarily as a defensive screen but was crucial in linking up the defense with the attack. The Spaniard was flawless with his passing and tackles which did not let West Ham dictate the tempo in midfield. In tough conditions at the Etihad, he was absolutely spot on with everything he did on the pitch.
Rodri had 96% passing accuracy, winning seven duels out of eight and kept initiating attacks with his play. The midfielder is yet to make a name for being considered the absolute best. However, if continues to play like he did against West Ham, he will surely be the best in the business.
#2 Joao Cancelo
One of the best full-backs in the world, it is hard to keep Joao Cancelo out whenever Manchester City perform well. Following his rise as a right-back, Cancelo has shown equal dominance on the left and made the left-flank his own.
Cancelo had the job of keeping Pablo Fornals and Ben Johnson quiet. The Portuguese did exactly that and added more value to the attack with his overlaps and crosses. He struggled a few times against Fornals but won the individual battle by dominating the left-wing for the majority of the match.
Cancelo was formidable in both defense and attack throughout the game. He consistently provided Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling with more space while keeping a lid on the West Ham wingers.
#1 Ilkay Gundogan
It was difficult to control the tempo of the match for both teams during heavy snowfall. But City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan was up to the task against West Ham. The Manchester City captain was the creative hub for his side, constantly breaking the lines of the opposition's defense.
Gundogan was solid with his passing, taking up dangerous positions during attacks and constantly troubling West Ham. The German scored the opener for Manchester City with a simple tap-in. He eventually assisted Fernandinho for City's second goal of the game.
Gundogan's 97% passing accuracy was the highest in the game. This shows the midfielder's ability to dictate the tempo of the match. He was easily the best player on the pitch, taking our #1 spot for his exploits.
