Defending champions Manchester City have started the new Premier League campaign with a 5-0 victory over West Ham United in Saturday's fixture at the London Stadium.
Raheem Sterling was the star of the show after netting a second-half hat-trick, while Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero also chipped in with goals for Pep Guardiola's side.
West Ham started brightly in East London as they kept City on the back foot during the early stages of the game, although it did not take long for City to find their rhythm at the other end of the pitch.
Riyad Mahrez was the first to try his luck, testing Lukasz Fabianski with a low strike from distance, before David Silva and the Algerian each pulled shots wide of the near post.
© Reuters
After gradually upping the tempo, City went in front after 25 minutes. Kyle Walker was released down the right flank and after reaching the byline, the full-back pulled the ball for Jesus to convert from six yards out after reacting sharply to a deflection from Issa Diop.
West Ham attempted to respond at the other end, although there were indications that the Hammers were already tiring after a high-octane opening to the contest.
However, while Kevin De Bruyne forced another decent stop out of Fabianski having got a shot away from 18 yards, West Ham made it to the break without any further alarm.
Manuel Pellegrini made the decision to introduce Pablo Fornals at the break in a bid to provide the home side with extra urgency, although City soon managed to double their lead in fine fashion.
De Bruyne burst forward through the centre of the pitch before laying the ball to his left for Sterling, who took his time before sliding a low shot inside the near post from 10 yards.
City thought they had netted a third moments later, with Jesus ending a superb team move with a tap-in from close range, but VAR ruled that Sterling had been in an offside position earlier in the attack.
© Reuters
That reprieve led to a positive response from West Ham, but Diop failed to take advantage when the opportunity arose as he sent a header from six yards over the crossbar.
West Ham also went close through both Javier Hernandez and Manuel Lanzini, only for Ederson to make two fine saves from point-blank range.
However, City quickly went about confirming maximum points by netting a third, with Sterling lobbing Fabianski from inside the area after collecting a precise floated pass from Mahrez.
City's fourth came via a re-taken penalty, with Aguero eventually converting from 12 yards after Fabianski had saved his first effort, which was chalked off as a result of encroachment by two West Ham players.
Sterling had been left disappointed having been denied the chance to complete his treble from the spot, although the winger claimed the match ball in added-on time as he coolly slotted the ball inside the near post after another excellent pass from Mahrez.
While the final result was harsh on a West Ham side who were full of endeavour, City were successful in laying down a marker to their rivals, who may have been hoping that the Hammers could do them a favour on the opening weekend.
WEST HAM UNITED (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Fredericks, Balbuena, Diop, Cresswell; Rice, Wilshere (Snodgrass 56'); Antonio (Fornals 46'), Lanzini, Anderson (Hernandez 66'); Haller
MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko; Rodri, De Bruyne (Gundogan 79'), D.Silva (Foden 80'); Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus (Aguero 69')
