Man City 3-1 Watford: Sterling nets hat-trick to help go 4 points clear at top

An offside controversy helped to launch Raheem Sterling's match-winning hat-trick as Manchester City went four points clear of Liverpool.

Match Report

Raheem Sterling's quickfire second-half hat-trick pulled apart stubborn Watford's resistance as Manchester City went four points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 victory.

Javi Gracia made seven changes to his Watford XI but the visitors proved miserly opponents as they frustrated Pep Guardiola's defending champions during the opening 45 minutes.

The opening goal came within a minute of the restart and amid considerable offside controversy.

Player Ratings

Match Events

46' GOAL! Man City 1-0 Watford (Sterling)

Huge controversy here! Aguero takes the ball down, plays it into Sterling's path who is obviously offside and he lobs it into the far corner over Foster. 

But after a long, long discussion between Referee Tierney and his assistant, the goal is given! Replays show the ball from Aguero was first touched by Janmaat, whose touch then rebounded against Sterling and that took it in.

50' GOAL! Man City 2-0 Watford (Sterling)

Just like London buses, Man City wait 45 minutes for one but then two come along at once. Kompany loses the ball but is lucky it falls for David Silva, who looks over to the right and Mahrez.

He gets ahead of the Watford defence and pulls the ball across the six-yard box to an unmarked Sterling, who taps in from close-range. No controversy about that one.

59' GOAL! Man City 3-0 Watford (Sterling)

A lovely ball inside Janmaat by David Silva sees Sterling turn on the afterburners again, pacing past him. 

But he shows superb composure, doesn't rush the finish and twists beyond two defenders before finally dinking the ball over Foster, who gets a hand to it but is outdone by the quality of the strike.

66' GOAL! Man City 3-1 Watford (Deulofeu)

What a start for Deulofeu! It's a mark against City's defensive record as he gets himself on the scoresheet within 21 seconds of coming on.

A long ball is flicked on by Deeney into his path, and he calmly slots under Ederson to reduce the deficit!

Line-ups

Man City XI: V. Kompany, David Silva, S. Agüero, N. Otamendi, K. Walker, İ. Gündoğan, Mahrez, R. Sterling, Ederson Moraes, Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva

Subs: F. Delph, Danilo, A.Laporte, Sané, Gabriel Jesus, Foden, A. Murić

Watford XI: B. Foster, M.Britos, Capoue, Kabasele, K.Femenía, Janmaat, Cleverley, A.Gray, Doucouré, Masina, I.Success

Subs: Gomes, Holebas, Deeney, Cathcart, Deulofeu, Ken Sema, D.Quina