Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandinho were on target as Manchester City moved back into second in the Premier League with a comfortable 2-1 home win over West Ham.
The defending champions made light of the difficult wintry conditions at the Etihad Stadium, where the visitors have now won just once in 16 top-flight visits.
Gundogan was on target in a first half where Riyad Mahrez had a strike ruled out, while the Hammers – who have now suffered back-to-back league defeats – were put to rest when Fernandinho netted late on with Manuel Lanzini’s goal proving a mere consolation.
Pep Guardiola’s 10th top-flight win in 11 attempts against West Ham means City move level on points with leaders Chelsea, albeit that may prove brief as the Blues host Manchester United later on Sunday.
Aymeric Laporte headed onto the right-hand post in the opening stages before Mahrez was adjudged to be offside from Raheem Sterling’s pass after he had powered past Lukasz Fabianski.
City broke the deadlock when Gundogan bundled Mahrez’s low cross home, with Ben Johnson then required to clear Gabriel Jesus’ effort off the line and Mahrez cannoning against the woodwork in a flurry of first-half chances.
The hosts almost doubled their lead after the interval through Jesus, who saw another chipped attempt cleared off the line by Aaron Cresswell, while Sterling blasted wildly over after the hour mark.
Jesus then teed up Fernandinho to slot into the bottom-left corner to make sure of the result with Bernardo Silva seeing another ruled out prior to Lanzini curling perfectly past Ederson to at least half the arrears for West Ham.
What does it mean? City keep pace at top as Hammers struggle
City have now won 10 of their last 11 Premier League meetings with West Ham, scoring 30 and conceding just six in the process, while the Hammers have taken only five points from 78 available in away games against reigning champions.
Guardiola’s side move level at the top with Chelsea, albeit by playing an additional game, and the visitors remain in fourth despite losing consecutive league games for just the third time since the start of last season.
Classy Cancelo
Joao Cancelo has been one of Guardiola’s standout performers this term and the Portugal international once again produced an excellent showing.
The former Juventus defender may have been cautioned but enjoyed a game-high 114 touches while registering two shots on target and as many key passes in an all-round display.
More needed from Michail
Michail Antonio cut a frustrated figure up top, regularly tasked with occupying Laporte and Ruben Dias with little support from those in behind him.
The Jamaica international failed to have a shot all game, while managing just 31 touches and winning fewer than half of his 12 duels.https://www.youtube.com/embed/kf6s2uM1XQY?feature=oembed
What’s next?
City travel to Aston Villa on Wednesday, while West Ham host Brighton and Hove Albion on the same day.
