Sterling celebrates first hat-trick

Raheem Sterling scored his first professional hat-trick for Manchester City on the day his former club Liverpool drew a blank on Jurgen Klopp’s first game in charge.

While Klopp was bemoaning an injury crisis at Anfield that saw him reduced to one senior striker for the 0-0 draw at Tottenham, Sterling and City were celebrating as they thrashed Bournemouth 5-1 to stay two points clear at the top of the English Premier League.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini said: “Sterling must improve, he is improving and I am sure this season he will score more goals than another season he played for Liverpool.”

Sterling was taken off at half-time against Newcastle in City’s last match but scored three times before the interval last Saturday, his second following a fantastic solo run.

“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,”said Pellegrini.

“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 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’s two goals were only marginally less important because of the encouragement it will give him filling in Sergio Aguero who has a hamstring injury.