Raheem Sterling scored a hat-trick as Manchester City thrashed Brighton 5-0 on Saturday evening.

It was a match that Pep Guardiola’s side absolutely dominated from start to finish with 25 attempts and 71% possession.

It was probably the most one-sided match you will ever see.

It took City 21 minutes to take the lead when Sterling fired home from the edge of the penalty area after good work from Gabriel Jesus.

Jesus then made it 2-0, prodding home after Rodri had won a header from Kevin de Bruyne’s corner.

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City picked up where they left off in the second half and Sterling made it 3-0 eight minutes after the break as he headed home from Riyad Mahrez’s cross.

It was 4-0 three minutes later as Matt Ryan spilt Bernardo Silva’s effort as the Portuguese subsequently found the back of the net after Jesus teed him up.

But the fifth and Sterling’s hat-trick goal was just ridiculous.

Sterling attempted to lob the ball over Lewis Dunk in the penalty area but was pushed to the ground. As he fell, the looping ball dropped on his head, managed to nutmeg Ryan. Dan Burn attempted to keep it on but only proceeded to hit the ball against the post and into his own net.

Shortly afterwards, it was credited as a Sterling goal meaning he would be taking the match ball home. It was lucky but Sterling deserved it with his overall performance.

It was his 25th goal of the season in all competitions and it seems he’s bad to his very best.

While City can’t catch Liverpool this season, they will need to be at their very best to win the Champions League.

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If they can get past Real Madrid in their last-16 tie (where they lead 2-1 from the first leg), they will likely play Juventus in the quarter-final before possibly Barcelona or Bayern Munich in the semis.

But with Sterling in this kind of form, City will fancy their chances of going all the way.