Sterling hat-trick takes Man City four points clear

The England international was lucky not to be ruled offside for City's opener as the ball ricocheted off Sterling from Daryl Janmaat's attempted clearance and into the net a minute into the second-half

Sterling then rounded off a characteristically slick City move four minutes later and completed his hat-trick in style on the hour mark before Gerard Deulofeu pulled a goal back just 22 seconds after coming on as a Watford substitute.

Liverpool can cut the gap to a point with victory over Burnley on Sunday.