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Sterling scores hat-trick as City hit Brighton for five

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VIDEO SHOWS: POST-MATCH NEWS CONFERENCE WITH MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER PEP GUARDIOLA / STILLS FROM MATCH IN WHICH MANCHESTER CITY BEAT BRIGHTON 5-0

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS:

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 11, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER, PEP GUARDIOLA, ON UPCOMING CAS DECISION, SAYING:

"It's the decision, so it's so important, of course it is. But we have done what we've done, which is win our qualification (for next year's Champions League) on the pitch. No one can doubt that. So, after an outstanding season from Liverpool in the Premier League, and congratulations to them again, so the level we played today is similar to how we played the season. And now, we're going to wait until Monday (July 13) when the decision will be made."

JOURNALIST, ASKING: "Are you confident?"

GUARDIOLA, SAYING: "A lot."

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 11, 2020) (POOL VIA REUTERS PICTURES VIA ACTION IMAGES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)

2. STILL PHOTO OF MANCHESTER CITY'S KEVIN DE BRUYNE IN ACTION WITH BRIGHTON'S YVES BISSOUMA

3. STILL PHOTO OF MANCHESTER CITY'S RAHEEM STERLING CELEBRATING SCORING SIDE'S FIRST GOAL

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 11, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER, PEP GUARDIOLA, ON RAHEEM STERLING, SAYING:

"All my respect, all the credit goes to him (Sterling). Not just the three goals, what we have in front of us is also important. And his development as a player is because he trains and wants to improve and we are so delighted with his performance today."

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 11, 2020) (POOL VIA REUTERS PICTURES VIA ACTION IMAGES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)

5. STILL PHOTO OF STERLING SCORING FIRST GOAL

6. STILL PHOTO OF STERLING SCORING THEIR THIRD GOAL

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 11, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER, PEP GUARDIOLA, ON RAHEEM STERLING, SAYING:

"No, I don't have to tell many things to Raheem. Raheem himself knows exactly what he has to do. He's a huge competitor and self-confident, aggressive. He loves to score goals. And I like that we have wingers that have the qualities to score goals. This is so important."

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 11, 2020) (POOL VIA REUTERS PICTURES VIA ACTION IMAGES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)

8. STILL PHOTO OF STERLING SCORING THEIR FIFTH GOAL, HIS THIRD ON THE NIGHT

9. STILL PHOTO OF STERLING CELEBRATING WITH TEAM MATES

STORY: Raheem Sterling struck a hat-trick as Manchester City crushed Brighton 5-0 at the AmEx Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday (July 11).

Second-placed City had lost their previous three away games but never looked likely to extend that streak against a Brighton side that struggled from the outset.

Sterling, who has now netted 27 goals in all competitions, opened the scoring in the 21st minute when he collected a nod-down from Gabriel Jesus outside the box and superbly drove it into the bottom corner.

Jesus made it 2-0 just before the break, turning in from close range after Rodri had headed a corner goalwards.

City took total charge in the second half, with Kevin De Bruyne striking the post in the 51st minute and two minutes later Sterling heading in a fine curling cross from Riyad Mahrez.

Bernardo Silva made it four and then Sterling bundled in the fifth in the 81st minute, the ball bouncing in off his head after he had fallen to the floor.

The result ensures that City, on 72 points, will finish in the runners-up spot, although they will have to wait for the decision from the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) on Monday (July 13) to find out if they will be able to compete in next season's Champions League.

City have been banned from European competition for two years by UEFA but appealed to CAS in a bid to overturn the decision.

Whatever the outcome of that ruling, City remain in this season's competition with the second-leg of their last 16 game against Real Madrid coming up in August.

(Production: Kurt Michael Hall)