Superb Manchester City thrash West Ham to close gap at top

Gabriel Jesus scored his first goal for Manchester City as Pep Guardiola's side moved level on points with fourth-placed Liverpool after another exhilarating showing at West Ham.

The Brazilian youngster was given his first Premier League start ahead of Sergio Aguero and rewarded his manager's faith with a simple finish and smart assist for Kevin De Bruyne's opener.

David Silva was also on target in what was a devastating first 45 minutes of football that effectively killed the game.

Yaya Toure's second-half spot-kick put the seal on a 4-0 win in what was surely one of the most one-sided encounters of the season.

It means the Citizens are now 10 points behind leaders Chelsea in fifth spot, just outside the Champions League places on goal difference.

West Ham had hoped to put the Dimitri Payet saga behind them by continuing a run that had seen them win five of their previous seven in the league, but they were outclassed by a side that had won at the London Stadium by a 5-0 scoreline just 26 days earlier in the FA Cup.

Slaven Bilic's men, who remain 11th, will be glad to see the back of a Citizens team that have scored 12 goals in three matches against them this term.

Ahead of the match the City boss opted to play Willy Caballero instead of the much-maligned Claudio Bravo, while young Brazilian, Jesus was preferred to talismanic frontman, Aguero. It was a decision that paid off - and then some.

Jesus sparkled alongside Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and De Bruyne and produced an all-round dangerous display to suggest he is going to be a superstar for City in the future.

Caballero didn't have much to do but did make a good save to deny Snodgrass late on. City's defence definitely looked much more assured here and on this evidence Bravo could be bench-warming for the foreseeable future.

Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City). De Bruyne, Sterling and Sane could all stake claims for the award, but the 19-year-old Brazilian gets the nod for making such a fine impression on his first Premier League start.

WEST HAM: Randolph 5, Reid 5, Cresswell 5, Byram 5, Fonte 5, Obiang 5, Lanzini 6, Noble 6, Antonio 6, Feghouli 5, Carroll 6. Subs: Fernandes 6, Snodgrass 6, Fletcher 5.

MAN CITY: Caballero 7, Sagna 7, Stones 8, Otamendi 8, Kolarov 7, Toure 7, Sane 8, Silva 8, De Bruyne 8, Sterling 8, Jesus 8. Subs: Fernandinho 6, Aguero 6, Delph 5.

17' - GOAL! WEST HAM 0-1 MAN CITY. De Bruyne leads the charge after picking up a woeful pass infield from Cresswell. The Belgian feeds Jesus to the right and carries on his run to receive the ball back and coolly steer it into the bottom right-hand corner.

21' - GOAL! WEST HAM 0-2 MAN CITY. It's two! City running riot. Sane easily beats Byram and drives to the left byline. He drills it across the six-yard box and Silva arrives to tuck home.

32' - WEST HAM CHANCE! Cresswell is left in acres on the left flank. Carroll wrestles for possession and flights a super ball to him. The full back nods it into his own path but then blazes high over the bar as Willy came to confront him. A big chance to reduce the arrears goes begging.

39' - GOAL! WEST HAM 0-3 MAN CITY. Jesus nets his first goal for Man City. Just seconds after De Bruyne had miscued what looked like a sitter, City break with Sane feeding Sterling who in turn put it on a plate for Jesus to tap home. Game over.

67' - GOAL! WEST HAM 0-4 MAN CITY. It's four! Yaya Toure steps up and fires a low penalty to the right of Randolph who gets a hand on it but can't keep it out. No doubt about the spot kick being awarded. Sterling got free on the right of the area and was tripped as he tried to cut inside Fonte. Nightmare debut for the defender.

Kevin De Bruyne scored in back-to-back Premier League games after a run of 15 apps without a goal.

Gabriel Jesus is the second Brazilian, after Rafael (for Man Utd), to score a PL goal before his 20th birthday.

Jesus is the first player to both score and assist in his first Premier League start for Man City.

Yaya Toure has scored all 11 of his Premier League penalties, the best 100% record in the competition.