The visitors took the lead through Angelo Ogbonna in the 44th minute before Nicolas Otamendi grabbed the equaliser 12 minutes after the restart. David Silva then clinched all three points with a strike in the 83rd minute.
The hosts have now won 13 consecutive Premier League games, a joint record in a season along with Arsenal (2001-02) and Chelsea (2016-17).
However, David Moyes’ side did run City close, rather surprisingly.
Here’s what we learned from the encounter.
UNITED GIVEN DERBY HOPE
Manchester United would’ve cast a keen eye on the game at the Etihad. What Jose Mourinho would’ve found particularly interesting is West Ham’s success at restricting City for the most part while still threatening to score against the run of play.
The first half was a dream scenario for the Hammers and Mourinho will believe that if they could do it for 56 minutes, before City finally managed to equalise, his side will be able to do it for 90.
West Ham set up in a 5-4-1 formation and frustrated City for long periods of the game. United enjoyed far more success with a similar system against Arsenal, albeit posing more of an attacking threat on the counter.
Despite Paul Pogba’s suspension, United have plenty of quality to hurt City on the break away and West Ham exposed their frailties on the few occasions they were allowed to counter.
TITLE-WINNING FORM
Never mind the 46 goals they’ve scored this season or their 13 consecutive league wins, it’s a narrow, nail-biting victory like the one against West Ham which justifies City’s claim to the title.
Champions keep going until the final whistle and on Sunday, every person in the Etihad, City players and West Ham’s included, knew that the home side would score even with less than 10 minutes to play with the scores level.
There was an air of inevitability to Silva’s winner, the only surprise being that it wasn’t Raheem Sterling who claimed the goal and the plaudits that go with it.
They did it even later against Huddersfield and Southampton and having done it again, they will have every confidence in themselves next time as well. If this isn’t title-winning form, then no such thing exists.
Can City be stopped?
PEP’S ROTATION WORKS WONDERS
With the games coming thick and fast, plenty of managers have had to shuffle their pack. Pep Guardiola, it must be said, is definitely one that seems to be getting it right.
While Fantasy Premier League managers are often left pulling their hair out due to the Spaniard’s personnel changes, he’s managed to keep his side fit and firing.
Silva was rested for the first time in the league in midweek and he was instrumental in the win at the Etihad, even scoring the decisive winner. His utilisation of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus cannot be faulted either with the Brazilian coming off the bench on this occasion to provide the assist for the equaliser.
