West Ham United 0-5 Manchester City: Five Talking Points | Premier League 2019-20

Manchester City visited West Ham United at London Stadium for the first game of their title defense of the Premier League. City, who had already won the Community Shield, and reinforced the squad with Rodri and Cancelo, were expected to have a rather tricky first game. After all, West Ham's squad quality was one to behold - Fornals, Haller, Felipe Anderson, Lanzini, all brilliant attacking players.

Pep Guardiola decided to rest Sergio Aguero and Bernardo Silva for the opener, leisure of having the squad depth of City at the disposal. With Sane injured too, City lined up with Sterling, Jesus, and Mahrez at the front. Rodri got his first PL start while Cancelo started from the bench.

Manuel Pellegrini lined up with a double pivot in a 4-2-3-1 formation, surprisingly leaving Fornals out of his starting 11. Sebastian Haller was the sole striker for the home side.

Manchester City took the lead in the 25th minute via Gabriel Jesus. They were made to sweat a bit by West Ham's intriguing passing moves and headways in the first half. In the second half though, City got a second goal through Sterling, and then a third also followed, in 51st and 75th minutes.

Aguero buried a penalty after missing initially from the spot just 10 minutes later. Sterling completed his hattrick in additional time to put City 5-0 ahead and finish off an absolute drubbing for West Ham.

Here are five talking points from the game.

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#5 VAR has come to England

Declan Rice was penalized for encroachment and Aguero was allowed to retake the penalty: VAR

The biggest talking point today is not the football that transpired in London, but the person who officiated it from inside the room with a monitor in front. VAR made its interventions more than anyone could have expected, and that too in a manner which seemed dubious to the players from both sides.

VAR's first intervention came when Gabriel Jesus tapped in what he thought was his second goal. The decision was reviewed by VAR and the goal was disallowed, causing a huge amount of confusion among the Manchester City staff and players. Raheem Sterling's shoulder seemed to be all right to the naked eye, but the close up on the screens judged it offside by the barest of margins, maybe a centimeter, and thus the play which followed viz. the square ball to Jesus and the tap-in, were overruled.

Then came VAR again, this time to City's rescue. Raheem Sterling seemed marginally off after Mahrez chipped a ball to him, which he chipped over Fabianski. However, this time, at the exact time of the chip by Mahrez, Sterling seemed well on and the goal stood.

The last VAR intervention was during the penalty by Aguero. The Argentine missed his penalty after a rather weak attempt but he was awarded a retake. One, Fabianski's feet were both off the line and second, Declan Rice was given a talking to for encroachment. Aguero scored the retaken penalty.

There is an uproar over the game being controversy stricken but none of the decisions was wrong. It must be said that VAR functioned smoothly, eliminating all errors, and gave the right decisions. Even the added time was suitable to the VAR interventions, and also, the decisions didn't take long as the referee doesn't have the authority to walk across and look at the monitor.

#4 Sebastian Haller the redeeming feature for West Ham

Sebastian Haller was problematic for City early on

The game ended in heartbreak for the Hammers. This kind of result is demoralizing even though it was against a Champions team. West Ham won't be judged by this performance but it was rather their own mistakes that doomed them than City's quality. When quality outclassed West Ham, the goal was ruled out. The other goals they conceded were abysmal for their liking because they conceded only 3 in their last 13 games before this season.

However, one must learn to find a positive note among all the things that need to be fixed, and that positive is the Hammers' acquisition from Frankfurt, Sebastien Haller.

Haller played impressively as a classic #9, a target striker whose movements were highly disorienting for the defense, pain in Laporte's head. If his teammates had succeeded in getting some supply to him, he might well have scored a goal.

Haller's stats were impressive. A 91% pass success completing 31 of 34 passes, that number is insane for a target striker. He had 47 touches - more than Michail Antonio, Felipe Anderson, and Jack Wilshere, and also his counterpart Gabriel Jesus. He also made 4 successful tackles and made 2 interceptions.

Aymeric Laporte was able to cancel out a lot of aerial threat from Haller, but with better supplies, Haller had the potential to hurt City. He was looking like a wolf on the prowl.

#3 Manchester City's summer signings: One has to wait, the other has room for improvement

Rodri jostling with Sebastian Haller

Rodri Hernandez got his first Premier League start and needless to say, he did show some nerves of his first PL game. Otherwise looking very good with his positioning, making himself available for passes, slotting in between the CBs, good body swivel and orientation while making passes, Rodri's only problem is a bit of nervousness.

He looked good but was caught in possession in dangerous areas which could have haunted him. He was dispossessed twice right in front of his box. But if we look past it, 86 touches, 65 completed passes (91%), 3 dribbles, 5 aerial duels won (100%), 3 tackles won (75%) - A grouped stat that any CDM would love to have. Rodri can put this down as a good start.

Joao Cancelo started from the bench today and Kyle Walker excelled on the pitch. He was dangerous in attacking areas, made decoy runs, got a splendid assist, and looked in control throughout. Walker had 73 touches - 5th best in the game, 47/55 passes at 85%, 2 key passes, won 2 aerials and a tackle. If he keeps this level of game up, Cancelo has to wait till Pep decides to rest Walker.

#2 Kevin de Bruyne looks possessed to regain "Best in PL" tag

West Ham United v Manchester City - Premier League

Kevin De Bruyne was Manchester City's best player in 17/18 and perhaps the best player in England too. Last season, he was out of action for the majority of the games owing to a prolonged knee injury. In the meantime, maybe we have all forgotten about him due to the impressive performances from Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling.

But this is KDB we're talking about and when he's fit, he's still one of the best midfielders around. De Bryune's heat map is scattered all over the pitch against West Ham and he had a good contribution, helping to progress play from deep, and looked sharp in the final third. Sterling's first goal was created solely by De Bruyne after a brilliant dribble right down the middle of West Ham's defense.

38/48 passes out of which 3 key passes, 65 touches, 4 tackles (100%) - Kevin De Bruyne's stats against West Ham. He had an assist to his name too. The Belgian looks a possessed player to take back what he was, and what he deserves, "The Best Player in EPL" tag.

#1 Manchester City hit the ground running in pursuit of historic 3rd title

West Ham United v Manchester City - Premier League

Manchester City has now won 2 consecutive league titles, amassing 198 points, and scoring around 180 goals. Last season, Manchester City scored 95 goals and in the first game this season, they have banged 5 goals. It is worth noting that it was an away game, against a team that looks great on paper, and importantly, a team who conceded only 3 in their last 13 Premier League games.

Manchester City is leaving no screws unturned. Pep was infuriated by the positioning of his midfielders following Ederson's brilliant double save, a phase during which the Cityzens struggled for composure. The bald genius also gave a Pep talk to de Bruyne after his substitution, when most coaches would save it for another day owing to what he showcased on the pitch.

Raheem Sterling has started with a hattrick, Laporte looked composed against a dangerous Haller, both fullbacks are performing well in attacking zones, de Bruyne looks sharp, Mahrez was good too.

All this and still having Cancelo, Aguero, and Bernardo Silva on the bench. The squad depth is insane and this team should strike fear. No matter the fact that they lost out in quarters of UCL, they look threatening to challenge for a quadruple yet again, and they are chasing their city neighbors for a milestone - 3 consecutive PL titles.

Only Liverpool, Arsenal and Huddersfield have achieved it and that was before the Premier League era.