Pep Guardiola praised the impact of "special" Raheem Sterling after the forward's hat-trick helped Manchester City begin their title defence with an emphatic 5-0 win at West Ham.

Sterling scored five goals in pre-season and continued that form for the defending champions on Saturday.

Since the summer, Sterling has shone in both a central role and out wide.

"I know the special qualities of the player, the consistency, physicality, the finishing," said Guardiola.

"For the second goal against West Ham the control was not good but the finish good, the third goal was really good.

"He is in his first days playing as a striker but for me striker will be an incredible position for him, but he can play in three positions up front."

Former England striker Alan Shearer was similarly impressed by the 24-year-old.

"When he gets in good positions now you're surprised if he doesn't score," Shearer said on Match of the Day. "He is so confident and has so much belief in himself. He was almost unplayable.

"His numbers in the last two years are outstanding - 35 goals and 32 assists in the Premier League.

"And in the last six years he's played more than 30 times every year - incredible, what a player!"

Guardiola, though, was keen to emphasise the importance of the whole team performing well together, pointing out that Sterling was not at his best when his team-mates were also underperforming at the start of the game.

He added: "In the first half he played in the level we played in as a team and then the second half he played the level the team played.

"They are incredibly talented players but they need the group. When the team goes forward and makes that step, he plays better."