Simone Zaza joins on loan from Juventus for £4.3m

Despite City’s dominance, they hardly threatened the West Ham goal for the remainder of the opening half, while the visitors failed to register a single effort on target.

Simone Zaza’s move from Juventus to West Ham has been completed, according to the son of the Premier League side’s co-owner.

The victory took City to nine points alongside rivals Manchester United, whom they will face in an eagerly-anticipated derby at Old Trafford after the upcoming worldwide break. “In the first half it was not only they were two up very early – even before they scored, they have two corners and one semi-chance, so they were much better than us”.

But despite all the control of the ball from City, it took a set piece for them to finally double the lead.

Just over 10 minutes later City doubled their lead as Kevin De Bruyne whipped in one of many unsafe free-kicks.

“You can’t say City didn’t deserve to win, but it was a game of two halves”, he told reporters.

City began the final period with same intensity and almost got a third goal just two minutes in, but Nolito was offside and the goal was rightly called off by the referee.

“We have players that get into pockets and good with one-twos”, Sterling added. A left-wing cross from Arthur Masuaka, who had been flirting with a red card after an early yellow, picked out his team-mate at the far post and, with Caballero unable to gather the ball, Antonio out-jumped Nicolas Otamendi and Gael Clichy to head in.

A well-deserved rest in the second leg of the Champions League qualifier would have done the injury-prone striker a world of good and he will be raring to go against a depleted Hammers side. Substitute Samir Nasri also saw a shot cleared off the line by Byram.

Winston Reid was forced to leave the pitch after he was hit by a stray elbow.

Sterling seemed to be weighed down by his £49m fee last season when the pressure mounted at City.

Middlesbrough’s Gaston Ramírez (left) vies with West Bromwich Albion’s Claudio Yacob during the match.

In the other game Sunday, Middlesbrough maintained their unbeaten start to life back in the Premier League by drawing 0-0 at West Bromwich Albion in a game of few clear-cut chances. The remaining 17 matches have ended in draws.

The hosts had the better of the first half, with James McClean denied by a fine save from Brad Guzan, before Salomon Rondon went close to connecting with a unsafe cross.

Meanwhile Alvaro Negredo ploughed a lonely furrow up front for Boro.

West Ham, who failed to make the Europa League group stage for the second year in a row after being eliminated by Astra Giurgiu, face Manchester City away in the league later on Sunday. Praise for the team for the second-half performance.