Gundogan masterclass as City score five

Ilkay Gundogan scored twice as Manchester City hammered strugglers West Brom 5-0 at the Hawthorns to go top of the Premier League.

Man City go top of the #PL with an emphatic win at The Hawthorns#WBAMCI pic.twitter.com/TWGVA3F1Op

— Premier League (@premierleague) January 26, 2021

City won without key midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who is out injured for 4-6 weeks.

City goals

Gundogan scored twice in the opening half hour to make it seven goals in his last eight league games. The German has scored in three straight league games. His first goal came after six minutes.

The midfielder was picked out by Joao Cancelo as he made a forward run to just outside the penalty area. His first touch was brilliant as he bought himself a yard of space and he then swept a shot into the far corner.

Pep Guardiola’s side second goal was contentious as the assistant referee flagged for offside before Joao Cancelo took a touch and bent a shot into the far corner. The West Brom defenders stopped when the flag was up but after a VAR check, the goal was given with the offside being incorrectly called.

The third goal was all made by Gundogan, who robbed Romain Sawyers of the ball and then turned past Dara O’Shea to stroke a finish past Sam Johnstone.

Riyad Mahrez made it four on the stroke of half time with a trademark goal from the Algerian. He controlled a cross-field pass from Raheem Sterling, cut inside on to his left foot and hammered a shot into the net

Raheem Sterling completed the scoring in the 57th minute, tapping in after Mahrez squared the ball to the Englishman.

Stats

City have now scored 36 goals this season, the same as Man United and one fewer than Liverpool.

Man City have now won their last 11 games in all competitions and have won their last seven in the league.

No team in Europe’s top five divisions has conceded as many goals at home as West Brom. They have conceded 29 with 17 coming in the first four home games under Sam Allardyce.

What it means

City are top of the Premier League at the end of the day for the first time this season and face bottom side Sheffield United at the weekend.

West Brom were beaten for the 13th time in the Premier League and are six points from safety. They face Fulham and Sheffield United in their next two games.

Featured image: Manchester City’s German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan (L) celebrates after he scores his team’s third goal with Manchester City’s English midfielder Phil Foden during the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City. (Photo by NICK POTTS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)