City player ratings: Sterling shines in 2-1 opening victory

Led by the spirited play of Raheem Sterling, Manchester City scraped three points against Sunderland.

It was far from sublime, but it was a productive start for Pep Guardiola first Premier League matchday. Here are City player ratings for the opener against Sunderland.

Getting the surprise nod over Joe Hart, Willy Caballero had an opportunity to make Guardiola think twice about buying a new goalkeeper as rumored. The Argentine didn’t quite seize it. He had a good reaction save late in the first half and executed some sweeper-keeping. His distribution out of the back was marginally better than what he dreadfully showed against Arsenal last Sunday. Overall, it’s not quite enough to secure him the job [C+]

Bacary Sagna’s execution of Guardiola’s tactics was well done. He was less a right back but a defensive midfielder, tucked in and pushed farther up the pitch. Sagna’s positioning helped stifle Sunderland and dominate possession much of the match. Yet, when Sagna had to defend like a full back, Jermain Defoe cut inside him before finishing underneath a charging Caballero. [C]

It wasn’t too shabby for £50 million acquisition. Stones’ completion percentage was an impressive 90 percent in the first half. He was bit slow in decision-making in possession but wasn’t at fault on the goal. He mostly returned the faith Guardiola put in him, as he and Aleksandar Kolarov were left isolated on the backline. [B-]

Kolarov played as a center half, kinda. He exhibited a lot of freedom, pushing forward to join the attack often as a part of Guardiola’s tactics. He was way out of position on the goal, forcing Stones to step up and create the space Jermain Defoe lethally exploited for the equalizer. It’s clear Kolarov is still learning Guardiola’s unusual system and central defending. [C]

Gael Clichy, with Sagna, was the other half of Guardiola’s masterstroke — pinched inside and above the center backs on the left. He served as an extra body in the middle of the park, smothering most of any center-developing counter attack Sunderland could muster. His traditional defensive duties were limited, as he significantly helped City dominate possession at 70 percent. [B-]

Fernandinho did what he was supposed to do: win possession and serve as conduit between the defense and offense. The latter was accomplished when he dropped back as third center back when City won the ball back in its half, often playing it wide to Stones and Kolarov, who flared squarely to the sides. Not flashy, but it was good yeoman performance from the Brazilian. [B]

Raheem Sterling was the evident man of the match. He did everything, including checking back to receive balls from Stones when the center back flared wide. He essentially scored by drawing the penalty kick that Sergio Aguero converted. When Sterling’s aggressive, as he was in this fixture, he’s a difference maker. Today’s performance is proof. [A-]

If Sterling was the most dangerous City player, Kevin De Bruyne took silver in that category. He struggle to creatively slice through Sunderland’s stubborn shell through the middle, but he roamed throughout the final third, finding more success out wide. He almost cleverly scored off a free kick outside the box, dipping a ball to the near post and forcing a save from Vito Mannone. [B+]

It was a quiet match for the diminutive David Silva. He didn’t quite find those pockets of space he thrives in. He was good but not quite decisive. Thus, City struggled to go for Sunderland’s jugular throughout most of the day. Give the Black Cats credit: They frustrated the playmaker and limited his creativity. With that said, it looks like he’s developing a bit of a chemistry with Nolito. [B]

After starting brightly, Nolito faded and disappeared as the match wore on. He did find space early on the left flank, with a bit of help from Silva. His best moment came in the first half when he beat his marker on the edge of the box, cut inside and whizzed a ball across the goal that wasn’t at all far off frame. [B-]

Goal aside, this was a pretty muted performance from City’s premier hitman. He finished Sterling’s good work with a near perfectly taken penalty kick. He, like Silva, was suffocated due to Sunderland’s stout defensive organization, though City’s possession wasn’t quite incisive enough. [B-]

Jesus Navas came on to spice things up after Nolito petered out, coming on for his countryman. He almost scored, anticipating and nearly intercepting the Wahbi Kazhri’s header back to Mannone. He provided the difference in that low, hard cross, forcing Paddy McNair’s own goal. [B+]

Delph came on for Silva, but didn’t do much offensively. He drew a corner with a cross that Jack Rodwell headed over his bar, but that’s pretty much it. He bears partial responsibility for the goal, as he failed to collapse on Fabio Borini quickly enough, which swiftly led to Defoe’s equalizing strike. [C-]

Iheanacho replaced Clichy to win the game. He didn’t, though he almost gave City breathing room late on with a good turn near Sunderland’s six-yard box. His effort was deflected, however, also missing an open Delph for a tap-in. Strikers will be strikers… [C]