West Ham remain in a precarious position above the relegation zone after a home defeat by Manchester City, who reached 100 Premier League goals for the season.

The champions took the lead when Leroy Sane’s shot deflected off the head of Patrice Evra and wrong-footed Hammers goalkeeper Adrian.

A series of West Ham defensive mishaps culminated in a Pablo Zabaleta own goal which gave City a two-goal advantage and saw them reach the landmark century.

Aaron Cresswell gave the Hammers a foothold in the game shortly before the break when he curled home a free-kick inside Ederson’s near post.

However, inspired by a brilliant performance from Raheem Sterling, City reasserted their control of the contest early in the second half.

Having earlier teed up Sane, Sterling claimed a hat-trick of assists after the break when he set up Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho to finish clinically from inside the box.

West Ham are three points clear of 18th-placed Southampton, who occupy the final relegation place.

Nervous times for the Hammers

West Ham kept City at bay for nearly an hour when the sides met at Etihad Stadium last December, as Guardiola’s side came from behind to win 2-1.

In this encounter a slick City team possessed the creativity to open the Hammers up at will, with the home side’s defenders left dazed and confused.

David Moyes’ side did not help themselves with an error-strewn defensive display, epitomised by City’s second goal, which bordered on slapstick.

Adrian rushed off his line but failed to win the ball, Angelo Ogbonna botched a headed clearance and then Declan Rice and Zabaleta contrived to put the ball into their own net.

West Ham had nine players in the penalty area yet still conceded.

Moyes, arms folded with a furrowed brow, cut a nervous figure on the touchline, aware of their position in the table.

Hammers fans will also be tense, especially given this is the second 4-1 defeat in as many weeks to damage their goal difference.

West Ham (-23) have worse goal difference than relegation rivals Southampton (-19) and are only two better off than Swansea (-25).

With things so tight at the bottom of the table could it prove crucial in the final reckoning?

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Century of goals for City

City’s second goal took their tally to 100 goals in 35 games this season as they became the fastest team to the milestone since Everton achieved it in 32 games in the 1931-32 season.

It was perhaps a little unfortunate the landmark moment came courtesy of some shambolic West Ham defending rather than a piece of City play.

Guardiola said in the wake of City’s 5-0 thrashing of Swansea that chasing records would keep the focus in the remainder of the season.

City’s players were true to his word as they continued to play with swagger and determination despite the title being won.

The margin of victory could have been greater, with Sterling denied what looked a clear penalty after a mistimed challenge from Cresswell.

Two more goals and three more points and City will break two of Chelsea’s Premier League records.

Equally sweet for Guardiola will be the fact he takes them off two of his managerial rivals.

Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea won 95 points in 2004-05 while Carlo Ancelotti’s Blues netted 103 goals in the 2009-10 season.

At London Stadium, City showed no signs of easing up.

Records Manchester City can still break:

• Most points (previous record – 95 set by Chelsea in 2004-05)
• Most wins (previous record – 30 set by Chelsea in 2016-17)
• Most goals (previous record – 103 set by Chelsea in 2009-10)
• Biggest title-winning margin (previous record – 18 points set by Manchester United in 1999-00)

Man of the match – Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

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A brilliant return for Jesus – the stats

• This is the fourth occasion that a team has scored 100+ goals in a single Premier League season and City are the first side to do so twice.
• City have won 30 Premier League games in 2017-18, equalling the English top-flight record for most league wins in a 38-game season (Chelsea 2016-17).
• City are the first team since Arsenal in 2012-13 to have four different players score 10+ Premier League goals in a single season.
• Gabriel Jesus has been directly involved in 24 goals in 25 Premier League starts for Man City (18 goals, six assists).
• Leroy Sane has scored 10 goals in a single top-flight season for the first time in his career.
• West Ham have conceded 67 goals in the Premier League this term – the most they’ve shipped in a single season in the competition since 2010-11 (70), when they were relegated.

What’s next?

West Ham face Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Saturday in a match which kicks off at 15:00 BST while Manchester City host relegation-threatened Huddersfield Town at the Etihad on the Sunday in the day’s early kick-off (13:30).

Live Text

Match ends, West Ham United 1, Manchester City 4.

Second Half ends, West Ham United 1, Manchester City 4.

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Pablo Zabaleta.

Foul by Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City).

Arthur Masuaku (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Yaya Touré (Manchester City).

Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Aaron Cresswell.

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Cheikhou Kouyaté.

Attempt blocked. Yaya Touré (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Leroy Sané (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Cheikhou Kouyaté (West Ham United).

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by João Mário.

Attempt missed. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Yaya Touré.

Substitution, Manchester City. Lukas Nmecha replaces Gabriel Jesus.

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Pablo Zabaleta.

Attempt saved. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Leroy Sané.

Attempt blocked. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Fabian Delph with a cross.

Attempt blocked. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.

Substitution, Manchester City. Yaya Touré replaces Ilkay Gündogan.

Substitution, West Ham United. Arthur Masuaku replaces Patrice Evra.

Substitution, West Ham United. Chicharito replaces Manuel Lanzini.

Substitution, West Ham United. João Mário replaces Edimilson Fernandes.

Goal! West Ham United 1, Manchester City 4. Fernandinho (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.

Offside, Manchester City. Kevin De Bruyne tries a through ball, but Raheem Sterling is caught offside.

Attempt saved. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gabriel Jesus with a through ball.

Substitution, Manchester City. Danilo replaces Kyle Walker.

Attempt missed. Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Gabriel Jesus.

Hand ball by Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham United).

Attempt missed. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.

Hand ball by Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).

Foul by Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).

Mark Noble (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Goal! West Ham United 1, Manchester City 3. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.

Offside, West Ham United. Aaron Cresswell tries a through ball, but Marko Arnautovic is caught offside.

Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Marko Arnautovic (West Ham United).

Foul by Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).

Mark Noble (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Second Half begins West Ham United 1, Manchester City 2.