Manchester City claimed a vital 2-0 victory over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The Citizens were in complete control of the game against a lacklustre Hammers side, which looked like they were already getting the sun loungers out.
When City scored the opener on 18 minutes it was almost inevitable. Jesus Navas put in a cross from the right, which West Ham centre-back James Collins managed to prod over his own keeper.
The home side continued to dominate possession and the second goal arrived on 36 minutes. City stole the ball in midfield and countered the Hammers at pace.
Navas was again involved in the goal. This time the winger found Sergio Aguero in the penalty area and the Argentine striker made no mistake with a powerful effort past Adrian in the West Ham goal. The effort took Aguero onto 20 Premier League goals for the season.
It looked like City would rack up a cricket score against the visitors, but they took their foot off the pedal. The biggest talking point of the second half was a facial injury sustained by City playmaker David Silva.
The former-Valencia star was on the receiving end of Cheick Kouyate’s arm, which resulted in the Spaniard receiving treatment on the pitch, after sustaining what looked like a nasty injury.
The win puts City just a point behind arch-rivals Manchester United in the league table and two points behind second-place Arsenal, who also have a game in-hand on the Citizens.
Will Manchester City claim a top three finish this season?
I wouldn’t expect this uninspired team to finish in the top 3. After winning the league last year, they act like they have nothing else to prove. They need more out of Yaya and Kompany, but it seems they are not the same players they where last year.