RAHEEM STERLING

Man City dropping points, Newcastle winning a game and a drone stopping play.

Britain Soccer Premier League Manchester City's Raheem Sterling scores his side's fourth goal, during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle and Manchester City at St. James' Park, Newcastle, England, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP) (Owen Humphreys)LONDON — (AP) — Chelsea complained about having to play with a coronavirus-depleted squad in drawing at Wolverhampton. And Manchester City just strolled further in front at the top of the Premier League. CITY RAMPANTAn eighth straight league win for City was started by defender Ciaran Clark allowing Ruben Dias to head in the opener at Newcastle before Joao Cancelo struck powerfully. It was City's 34th league victory in 2021, surpassing the previous calendar year record in England set by Liverpool in 1982.

Chelsea complained about having to play with a coronavirus-depleted squad in drawing 0-0 at Wolverhampton.

Defending champion Manchester City is on top of the English Premier League for the first time this season.

Tottenham has come from behind to beat Leeds 2-1 and earn a first win under Antonio Conte in the Premier League.

Hungary England WCup 2022 Soccer England's Raheem Sterling runs with the ball during the World Cup 2022 group I qualifying soccer match between Hungary and England at the Ferenc Puskas stadium in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Laszlo Balogh) (Laszlo Balogh)After England players faced racial abuse in Hungary, FIFA said Friday it will take “adequate actions” once it has investigated the incidents. The statement from FIFA stopped short of directly condemning Hungary fans for the abuse, which included monkey chanting, in Thursday's World Cup qualifier at Puskas Arena in Budapest. “It is completely unacceptable that England players were racially abused in Hungary last night,” Johnson said on Twitter. “I urge (FIFA) to take strong action against those responsible to ensure that this kind of disgraceful behaviour is eradicated from the game for good."

Hungary England WCup 2022 Soccer England's Raheem Sterling runs with the ball during the World Cup 2022 group I qualifying soccer match between Hungary and England at the Ferenc Puskas stadium in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Laszlo Balogh) (Laszlo Balogh)ZURICH — (AP) — After England players faced racial abuse in Hungary, FIFA said Friday it will take “adequate actions” once it has investigated the incidents. The statement from FIFA stopped short of directly condemning Hungary fans for the abuse, which included monkey chanting, in Thursday night's World Cup qualifier at Puskas Arena in Budapest. “It is completely unacceptable that England players were racially abused in Hungary last night,” Johnson said on Twitter. World Cup qualifiers are organized by FIFA.

FIFA says it will take “adequate actions” once it has investigated the the racial abuse that England players faced in Hungary.

Jack Grealish closed his eyes, looked toward the sky, and stuck his index fingers into his ears.

The prospect for Tottenham of life without Harry Kane might not be so terrifying after all.

England lost the Euro 2020 soccer championship final match to Italy on Sunday July 11. (AP Photo/Tony Hicks) (Tony Hicks)LONDON — (AP) — British police said Thursday they have made 11 arrests in connection with the online racial abuse of England soccer players following their team's loss to Italy in the final of the European Championship last month. The unit said that of the 207 criminal social media posts identified, 123 accounts belong to individuals outside the U.K. and their details are being shared with the relevant countries. Roberts said the Football Policing Unit is “seeking engagement” with the players themselves to offer support and to seek their input on the investigation and any subsequent prosecutions. Prince William, the president of the English Football Association, said he was “sickened” by the racism aimed at the England players.

British police have made 11 arrests in connection with the online racial abuse of England soccer players following their team’s loss to Italy in the final of the European Championship last month.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced plans to ban anyone guilty of online racist abuse from attending soccer matches after three Black players on England’s national team were targeted.

Three Black players who missed penalty kicks for England in the decisive European Championship shootout against Italy were subjected to racist abuse online.

Post from chief executive of Ireland's basketball federation came after controversial penalty drawn by Raheem Sterling, a Black soccer player for England.

Many British people of color have long had an ambivalent relationship with symbols of Englishness and England's national soccer team.

___England and Denmark are heading to extra time with the score level at 1-1 in the European Championship semifinals. ___The European Championship semifinal match between England and Denmark has started at Wembley Stadium. ___Fans have started coming into Wembley Stadium hours before the European Championship semifinal match between England and Denmark. ___Will it be England or will it be Denmark against Italy in the European Championship final? This is the farthest Denmark has gotten at a major soccer tournament since winning the European Championship title in 1992.

Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand says he cannot understand how a decisive penalty was awarded against his team in the 2-1 loss to England in the European Championship semifinals.

England has reached the European Championship semifinals by beating Ukraine 4-0.

Britain England Germany Euro 2020 Soccer England's Raheem Sterling celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Euro 2020 soccer championship round of 16 match between England and Germany, at Wembley stadium in London, Tuesday, June 29, 2021. (Andy Rain, Pool via AP) (Andy Rain)LONDON — (AP) — England is unburdened by the weight of agonizing history: Germany has finally been beaten in a tournament again. Just like in the 1966 World Cup final, England triumphed over a German team at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday, winning 2-0 to reach the European Championship quarterfinals. The round of 16 finally saw England net more than once at Euro 2020, and for Harry Kane to shed the pressure on his shoulders by finally scoring. England will play either Sweden or Ukraine in the Euro 2020 quarterfinals on Saturday in Rome.

APTOPIX England Czech Republic Euro 2020 Soccer England's Raheem Sterling, right, scores his team's first goal during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group D match between the Czech Republic and England at Wembley stadium, London, Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (Neil Hall/Pool Photo via AP) (Neil Hall)LONDON — (AP) — At least England now knows it can rely on Raheem Sterling for goals. Sterling scored his second goal at Euro 2020 on Tuesday to secure a 1-0 victory over the Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium. How unlike the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, and Euro 2016, when Sterling was unable to find the net. Kane at least managed his first shot on target of Euro 2020 against the Czechs after failing to do so against Croatia and in the 0-0 draw with Scotland.

Raheem Sterling scored again at the European Championship and England beat the Czech Republic 1-0 to win Group D.

Some fans are having to make new plans after their tickets were cancelled.

(AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool) (Frank Augstein)BURTON-ON-TRENT, England — (AP) — Taking a knee has now pitted a British government official against the England team in their campaign against racial injustice. Home Secretary Priti Patel has directly opposed players taking part in the anti-racism gesture before games at the European Championship. Mings hopes education convinces people like Patel why the players are kneeling. “The home secretary is one of many, many people that oppose us taking the knee or refuse to defend it,” Mings said Tuesday at England's St. George's Park training headquarters. “We’ve spoken about trying to educate or trying to inform the minority who refuse to acknowledge why we’re taking the knee and want to boo it,” Mings said.

England defender Tyrone Mings has responded to criticism from British Home Secretary Priti Patel for taking a knee before games at the European Championship.

APTOPIX Britain England Croatia Euro 2020 Soccer England's Raheem Sterling celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group D match between England and Croatia at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, June 13, 2021. “He brings a lot of energy to the team,” Sterling said. That was despite pleas from the England team to respect the anti-racism gesture. “It’s not conditions we’re used to and we dug in as a team," Sterling said. I couldn’t wait to get started with England and I knew it would be a positive one.”___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.

APTOPIX Britain England Croatia Euro 2020 Soccer England's Raheem Sterling celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group D match between England and Croatia at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, June 13, 2021. The winger’s goal — his first in a tournament in his 13th match through four competitions — gave England a 1-0 win over Croatia on Sunday in its opening Euro 2020 game. Sterling, who has struggled for game time at Manchester City in recent months, found the breakthrough for England in the 57th minute. It was the vision of Kalvin Phillips, one of five England starters making their tournament debut, that created the opening. But at the first England game at Wembley with fans since 2019, there was a sour start when players taking a knee were jeered by their own fans.

Raheem Sterling scored his first tournament goal to give England a 1-0 victory over Croatia at the European Championship.

(Glyn Kirk/Pool Photo via AP) (Glyn Kirk)The Latest on soccer’s European Championship:___England midfielder Jude Bellingham has become the youngest player to appear at a European Championship. ___Raheem Sterling scored his first tournament goal to give England a 1-0 victory over Croatia at the European Championship. Boesen led the work in giving Eriksen CPR after he collapsed during Denmark’s European Championship game against Finland on Saturday. ___Sections of fans at Wembley Stadium have booed England players for taking a knee before the European Championship game against Croatia. ___A rematch from the World Cup semifinals will be first up on Day 3 of the European Championship when England takes on Croatia.

Britain England Croatia Euro 2020 Soccer England's Raheem Sterling, left, takes the knee before the start of the Euro 2020 soccer championship group D match between England and Croatia at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool) (Frank Augstein)LONDON — (AP) — Sections of fans at Wembley Stadium booed England players for taking a knee before the European Championship game against Croatia on Sunday. The boos, which could be heard over those fans applauding, came despite pleas from the team to respect the anti-racism gesture. Croatia’s players did not take a knee as expected. Some England fans claim taking a knee is a political act but the English Football Association said again ahead of the team's opening Euro 2020 match that the gesture is important to them and should be respected.

Sections of fans at Wembley Stadium have booed England players for taking a knee before the European Championship game against Croatia.

(AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool) (Frank Augstein)The Latest on soccer’s European Championship:___Sections of fans at Wembley Stadium have booed England players for taking a knee before the European Championship game against Croatia. ___Injured Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk has sent his teammates a message of encouragement ahead of their European Championship opener against Ukraine. The Group D opener is the first England game with fans allowed at Wembley since November 2019. ___Former Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has criticized the decision to resume Saturday’s European Championship game after Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field and needed CPR. ___A rematch from the World Cup semifinals will be first up on Day 3 of the European Championship when England takes on Croatia.

England players have been pleading with fans to stop booing when they take a knee before games.

Queen Elizabeth II has used her birthday honors list to celebrate those at the forefront of the U.K.’s rapid rollout of coronavirus vaccines over the past few months, which has been credited with turning around the country’s pandemic response.

Chelsea won the Champions League for the second time by beating Manchester City 1-0 thanks to Kai Havertz’s first-half goal as Pep Guardiola’s overthinking proved costly again in the all-English final.

The all-English Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea contains some intriguing matchups and themes.

Chelsea has come from behind to beat Manchester City 2-1 and prevent City from clinching a third English Premier League title in four seasons and dethroning Liverpool.

Liverpool's 3-0 victory at Arsenal has provided a reminder of the quality that had the champions still leading the Premier League in December before imploding.

Manchester City players celebrate after Manchester City's Raheem Sterling scored his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates stadium in London, England, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. (Julian Finney/Pool via AP)Exactly three months ago, Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham was outwitting Manchester City to go top of the Premier League and leave Pep Guardiola doubting the direction he was taking his slumping midtable team. Things are changing fast in the lives of two of soccer’s most storied managers, whose teams are going in opposite directions this season. City beat Arsenal 1-0 thanks to Raheem Sterling’s second-minute header to preserve its 10-point lead over Manchester United and Leicester, who also won Sunday. “The Europa League is a window of opportunity that is open for us.”United beat Newcastle 3-1 to stay in second place on goal difference from Leicester, which won 2-1 at Aston Villa.

Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson stands on the pitch during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021. Leicester moved three points ahead of Liverpool in third after drawing 0-0 with Wolverhampton. AdOn a freezing day across England, Klopp could only figure that the icy conditions were to blame for a blundering performance by goalkeeper Alisson Becker that proved so costly. It was only 35 days earlier that a 3-1 win at Chelsea took City to fifth, four points behind then-leader Liverpool with a game in hand. Jorginho’s 58th-minute penalty clinched the win over the last-place team after Timo Werner was brought down by goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

The fans — 2,000 from West Ham, 2,000 from Chelsea — had contrasting experiences on opposite sides of London. Chelsea’s players treated their select group of attending fans to a comeback of their own at Stamford Bridge. The match saw respective managers Frank Lampard, of Chelsea, and Marcelo Bielsa, of Leeds, meet for the first time in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Guardiola didn’t make a single substitution, at a time when he is pushing the Premier League to increase the number of replacements from three to five for player-welfare reasons. It’s now 11 goals in 11 games for the Everton striker after scoring the equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Burnley.

(AP Photo/Martin Meissner)With one point from its opening two games, Real Madrid is facing another fight to preserve its proud record of qualifying for the knockout stage in all of its seasons in the Champions League. Heading into the 87th minute against Borussia Mönchengladbach, Madrid was losing 2-0 and on course for four straight losses in the Champions League for the first time. Madrid is in bigger trouble, though, in its 25th campaign in the Champions League, in which the team has never been eliminated in the group stage. Defending champion Bayern Munich is having no such trouble, with a 2-1 victory at Lokomotiv Moscow extending its winning run in the Champions League to 13 games. However, Jota scored in the 55th for a historic goal for Liverpool and substitute Mohamed Salah converted a stoppage-time penalty.

Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham and Manchester City, at the London Olympic Stadium Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne will be on board, recently back from injury and fresh from protestations about the workload being forced on soccer players this season. “I try to demand everything from my players,” City manager Pep Guardiola said at the weekend, “but there is a limit for human beings.”Sympathy is usually in short supply when it comes to Man City and the debate over workload and fixture congestion. In short, being the busiest team in English soccer in recent years appears to be taking its toll. If he is to add to his collection of trophies won at City since 2016, don’t expect them to come easily this season.

Early in what proved to be a painful Merseyside derby for Liverpool, Van Dijk was the subject of a reckless lunge by Jordan Pickford that saw the Everton goalkeeper clatter into the extended right leg of the Netherlands defender. Van Dijk roared in agony and, tellingly, stayed down. There was no official word from Liverpool on the potential length of his absence, but Van Dijk reportedly left hospital on crutches in the evening. Van Dijk might have been marking Keane and Calvert-Lewin for both of those Everton chances. For Southampton’s second goal, Kurt Zouma underhit a back pass before goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga made two errors in a matter of seconds to allow Che Adams to score.

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola, left, talks with Leeds United's head coach Marcelo Bielsa at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Manchester City at Elland Road in Leeds, England, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020. What to make of seeing his Manchester City side held 1-1 by Bielsa's Leeds on Saturday? While Leeds had seven shots on target, Raheem Sterling's 16th-minute strike low shot inside the far post was one of only two for City. We must do more and better.”Especially with City already eight points behind Everton, which is the early leader after beating Brighton 4-2 to make it four wins out of four. Fifth-place Leeds, which like Everton has played a game more than City, is still three points ahead of Guardiola's side.

James Rodriguez joined Premier League club Everton on Monday, Sept. 7, 2020 in an attempt to revive a career that faltered at Real Madrid. Now, they are both at Everton, a team without a trophy since 1995 and living in the shadow of neighbour Liverpool, the recently crowned Premier League champion. KAI HAVERTZ (Chelsea)The most expensive signing of the offseason at a fee rising to $92 million, Havertz might also be the most interesting. Havertz is the youngest player to reach 100 Bundesliga appearances and scored 36 goals in four seasons with Bayer Leverkusen in the German league. With Timo Werner, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech making up Chelsea's likely attack, Havertz won't be short of quality around him.

England's Raheem Sterling celebrates after scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Iceland and England in Reykjavik, Iceland, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Brynjar Gunnarson)Kylian Mbapp and Raheem Sterling have started their new seasons a lot better than they finished their last. With an individual goal that combined fortune and inspired impudence, Mbapp earned France a 1-0 win at Sweden in the Nations League on Saturday. They rediscovered their scoring touch with their countries in the round of games in the Nations League, which marks the return of international football after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. From an acute angle, he found the gap between Olsen and the post with a left-footed shot for his 14th international goal.

Lyon's Moussa Dembele, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's third goal during the Champions League quarterfinal match between Manchester City and Lyon at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020. (Franck Fife/Pool Photo via AP)LISBON Lyon stunned Manchester City to reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time in a decade, with Moussa Dembl scoring twice for the French outsiders Saturday to seal a 3-1 win that sets up a meeting with Bayern Munich. It leaves Pep Guardiola without a Champions League title since 2011 with Barcelona, falling short in three attempts with Bayern Munich and once again in his fourth season at City. Guardiola's decision to deploy an unfamiliar five-man defense to match Lyon's system backfired with the back line easily beaten for Maxwel Cornet to score in the 24th minute. And there was a glaring miss by City forward Raheem Sterling, blazing the ball over an empty net, before Dembl scored again.

Manchester United's Paul Pogba runs during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and West Ham at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Wednesday, July 22, 2020. (Cath Ivill/Pool via AP)

Manchester United's Paul Pogba runs during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and West Ham at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Wednesday, July 22, 2020. Intriguingly, two of them face off on the final day, with Leicester hosting United at King Power Stadium. Chelsea is guaranteed a return to the Champions League with a win or a draw. One of Chelsea, Leicester and United is sure to take one of the spots while the other will go to Wolves or Tottenham. FAREWELLSDavid Silva will play his final Premier League game for Man City before he leaves the club after 10 years.

(Adrian Dennis/Pool via AP)WATFORD As the ball rolled past him and Manchester City's score racked up, goalkeeper Ben Foster increasingly feared for Watford's Premier League survival. It wasn't even lifted by Watford's last desperate roll of the dice firing its third manager of the season. Sterling set up the third when his close-range shot was saved by Foster Watford's star performer and Phil Foden tapped into an empty net in the 63rd minute. Javi Gracia was still at the helm when City crushed Watford 6-0 in the final game of last season in the FA Cup final. The Champions League doesn't resume until August when City will be protecting a 2-1 lead over Real Madrid in the last-16.

(AP Photo/Peter Powell,Pool)Aston Villa is out of the Premier Leagues relegation zone for the first time in five months. The fight to avoid dropping out of the worlds richest domestic league is heading to the final day of the season, with two relegation places still to be filled and three clubs in realistic danger. Arsenal lost to a relegation contender two days after beating Manchester City in the FA Cup semifinals, highlighting the inconsistency that still bedevils Mikel Artetas team. CITY ROUTIf Watford does go down, at least it wont have to play Manchester City next season. Kevin De Bruyne provided the cross for Laportes goal for his 19th assist of the season, one off Thierry Henrys record for one season.

(AP Photo/Matt Childs,Pool)LONDON Seven months after leaving Pep Guardiola's side, Mikel Arteta outwitted his mentor to ensure his first season as Arsenal manager will end with an FA Cup final. Football shut down for three months in England and resumed in June with City beating Arsenal 3-0 in the Premier League. The FA Cup is the second trophy surrendered by City this season after losing the Premier League title to Liverpool. But City has already successfully defended the League Cup and can still win a double. BURNLEY EYES EUROPEThe number of Europa League slots in the Premier League depends on who wins the FA Cup.

City fans are celebrating a squad of lawyers outsmarting UEFAs judicial machinery in extra time and saving the club from a devastating two-year Champions League ban. It is still the biggest sanction for an English club since City was fined 30 million euros in the original 2014 FFP case for overspending. Clubs across Europe made a combined profit of 140 million euros in 2018 compared to losses of 1.163 billion euros in 2009 before FFP was implemented. The CAS verdict only reinforces City fans grievances with European footballs governing body. Meanwhile, City could end an extraordinary season by lifting UEFA's biggest club prize for the first time: The European Cup.

Manchester City's Raheem Sterling, second right, celebrates after his team's fourth goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Thursday, July 2, 2020. (AP Photo/Laurence Griffiths,Pool)MANCHESTER Even a 4-0 drubbing is forgivable for Jrgen Klopp now the Premier League trophy has been sealed. Its a reminder of how good Man City is, Klopp said. Were going in a direction thats really bad for the beautiful game, Mourinho said, the game that everybody fell in love with.Still, Mourinho did not want his players using that frustration as an excuse. After reaching last seasons Champions League final losing to Liverpool Tottenham might not qualify for any European competition next season.

(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)MANCHESTER A Premier League shutdown that began with the British government trying to shame stars over their wealth ended with admiration for a player's determination to ensure children won't starve. Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford received an unprecedented outpouring of congratulatory messages ahead of Wednesday's resumption of the world's most followed soccer league. It was at the same podium three months ago, early in the coronavirus pandemic, that the government tried to shame stars of the worlds richest league. I think well look back on the last three months with some pride at the way football as an industry has responded to some of the challenge, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said. And alongside fellow players, Sterling launched a #TimeForChange campaign video that ended with him saying: I will never tire of being black.The league is more reticent to say how it can create a more inclusive environment.

(AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)When the time came to vote on restarting the Premier League, no black chief executives or chairmen from the English clubs were involved. There is only one black manager in the Premier League Nuno Esprito Santo -- at Wolverhampton and no black referees. The Bundesliga has no black coaches and black players can face racial abuse. The league will support players who take a knee before or during matches, the Premier League said. The Premier League believes there is no room for racism, anywhere.___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports___AP Sports Writer Ciaran Fahey in Berlin contributed to this report.

Teams have already started checking players and coaches for the coronavirus, with a total of 1,600 weekly tests anticipated across the 20 clubs in England's top division. Up to 40 players and coaches at each club were due to be tested for the coronavirus across Sunday and Monday. Some players and managers have expressed concern about returning to training since Britain has Europes highest virus death toll as well as the most confirmed cases. We have to be measured.Britain reported on Sunday that 170 more people have died from the coronavirus, raising its overall death toll to 34,636. It is the lowest daily death toll since the day after the countrys lockdown was announced on March 23, although weekend figures are usually lower because reporting lags when compared with weekdays.

Megan Rapinoe accepts the Best FIFA Women's Player of the Year award during The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019 at the Teatro alla Scala on Sept. 23, 2019, in Milan, Italy. USWNT star Megan Rapinoe praised Raheem Sterling for his continuing fight against racism and urged a host of leading footballers and coaches to use their platform as worldwide stars to "change the world for better" after being named The Best FIFA Women's Player of the Year on Monday. However, Rapinoe said that it shouldn't be just down to those individuals to fight alone. I feel like that's my ask of everybody, we have such an incredible opportunity being professional football players. Award winnersElsewhere, Lionel Messi edged out Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk to be crowned The Best FIFA Men's Player, while Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp and USWNT boss Jill Ellis were crowned The Best FIFA Coaches.

Lukasz Fabianski of West Ham United saves a penalty from Sergio Aguero of Manchester City which is then retaken due to him coming off his line during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London Stadium on(CNN) - Any doubts that Manchester City was the favorite to defend its Premier League crown were quickly extinguished at the London Stadium Saturday. A Raheem Sterling hat-trick helped Pep Guardiola's side cruise past West Ham 5-0, which means City has now won its season opener for nine consecutive years. The emphatic scoreline bettered rival Liverpool's 4-1 victory over Norwich City on Friday night, further evidence that these two sides will be frontrunners again this season. It was also an action-packed afternoon for the video assistant referee, which is being used in the Premier League for the first time. The result means West Ham has lost by at least four goals in its last three season openers.