One of the criticisms aimed against Sterling following his £49million summer move from Liverpool was a lack of goals. No longer. His classy treble against Bournemouth took his tally for the Premier League leaders to five in 10 matches, having scored 11 in his last campaign at Anfield.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini said: ‘He must improve, he is improving and I am sure this season he will score more goals than another season he played for Liverpool.’
It is true Bournemouth were already carrying a lengthy injury-list before goalkeeper Adam Federici was drafted into the starting line-up when Artur Boruc was injured in the warm-up.
Sterling’s second goal in particular was a treat, leaving two defenders trailing as he weaved his way to goal the run was reminiscent of two other famous Manchester names, George Best and Ryan Giggs. The comparison might sound sacrilegious to some but it’s easy to forget Sterling doesn’t even turn 21 until December.
Pellegrini said: ‘He didn’t lose confidence after being taken off in the last game. I spoke to him immediately after that game, he didn’t play well. We changed his position for this game and it was important. We put Kevin De Bruyne in his position on the left and Raheem was nearer Wilfried Bony, who created space for him and allowed him to score more goals.’
Sterling was delighted. ‘I like to go out with a free mind and play my game,’ he said. ‘I definitely work on my finishing. I get quite a lot of chances and it’s definitely something I will keep working on.’
Bony, who recently revealed he contracted malaria in the summer, will be boosted by his two goals as he tries to fill Sergio Aguero’s boots for the next month. The Argentine is ruled out with a hamstring injury, having scored five against Newcastle last time out.
Meanwhile, on modest resources, Bournemouth have been cursed by long-term injuries to Callum Wilson, Tyrone Mings, Tommy Elphick and Max Gradel.
Things got worse 20 minutes before kick-off. ‘Artur Boruc came in and complained of tightness in his thigh when he started kicking in the warm-up,’ confirmed manager Eddie Howe. ‘It was the last thing we needed at a place like this! This was our first experience of a top-four side and we didn’t deal with it very well. We are just going to have to cope with the injuries. At least I was pleased with the character we showed in the second half.’
Federici looked shell-shocked by his late call and conceded twice in the opening 11 minutes.
First, Pablo Zabaleta’s cross was diverted by ex-City defender Sylvain Distin into Sterling’s path and he converted from close range. Then, Federici dropped a regulation cross from Bacary Sagna at the feet of Bony, who accepted the gift.
To Bournemouth’s credit, they hit back with a fine goal of their own. Eunan O’Kane fed Glenn Murray and he finished with the outside of his right boot from 18 yards.
That only seemed to incur City’s wrath and just before the half-hour Sterling scored a sumptuous goal.
Running onto a long ball by De Bruyne, the England player collected on the angle of the penalty area. He cut inside Steve Cook, then Distin and rolled in a right-footed finish from six yards.
Poor Federici blundered again as Sterling completed his hat-trick in first-half injury time. The keeper hesitated coming out for a long punt to allow Jesus Navas to run around him. He did get back to parry the Spaniard’s shot but the rebound went straight to Sterling.
He produced a quick shimmy to lose Andrew Surman and fired home between Federici’s legs.
Sterling was denied any more when he was taken off, surely with City’s next two big fixtures against Sevilla and Manchester United in mind. Yaya Toure, replaced after 45 minutes on Saturday, and captain Vincent Kompany, left on the bench, should be available to Pellegrini.
Bony produced a sharp turn and finish to score City’s fifth in the final minute but Sterling was the star. ‘The second was probably the pick of the goals. It’s a great day for me, my family and my team-mates,’ he said.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has backed Wilfried Bony to step up and fill in for Sergio Aguero, who he confirmed will be out for at least a month with an injury sustained on international duty with Argentina.
Aguero is one of five players absent for City against Bournemouth on Saturday, with David Silva, Aleksandar Kolarov, Gael Clichy and Fabian Delph also missing through injury.
'Sergio Aguero has a muscle injury it’s an important injury so I don’t think he will be back before one month,' Pellegrini said at a press conference on Friday.
'I always trust Wilfried – he’s a very good player. He’s had very bad luck here. He arrived here in January, he went to the African Cup and then he had problems with his knee.
'Last season he couldn’t demonstrate what he can do but now he has the responsibility.'
Pellegrini revealed a kick to the ankle means Silva will miss the visit of Eddie Howe's Cherries side, but did not put a timescale on when he will return.
Silva has a kick in his ankle – he’s also out. Delph and Clichy continue to recover with old injuries. Kolarov also has a hamstring injury.'
'For Delph, maybe one week more and he will be working with the squad,' Pellegrini said, who also had some good news to report with Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri and Fernando returning to fitness.
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