Manchester City vs Watford: Raheem Sterling hat-trick sends City four points clear at top of Premier League

Relive all the action from the Etihad

Pep Guardiola hails Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany

Raheem Sterling scored a 13-minute hat-trick as champions Manchester City beat Watford 3-1 to open up a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

There was an element of controversy over the England forward's first goal but his quickfire treble turned a frustrating game decisively in City's favour early in the second half.

Gerard Deulofeu did pull one back for the visitors at the Etihad Stadium but City held on to turn up the heat on closest challengers Liverpool ahead of their game against Burnley on Sunday.

Relive all the action below.

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[9 March 2019 12:25 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Hello! Welcome along to another packed Saturday of Premier League football. Here's what's in store...

1230 Crystal Palace vs Brighton

1500 Cardiff City vs West Ham United

1500 Huddersfield vs Bournemouth

1500 Leicester vs Fulham

1500 Newcastle vs Everton

1500 Southampton vs Tottenham

1730 Manchester City vs Watford

All the team news and build-up will be along shortly but in the meantime here's the latest from Selhurst Park and the M23 Derby:

[9 March 2019 14:10 · Lawrence Ostlere]

The teams! 

Huddersfield XI: Lössl; Bacuna, Zanka, Schindler, Durm; Stankovic; Mooy, Billing; Pritchard; Mounie, Kachunga

Bournemouth XI: Boruc; Smith, Mepham, Aké, Daniels; Brooks, Lerma, Surman, Fraser; King; Wilson.

Newcastle XI: Dubravka; Yedlin, Schär, Lascelles, Lejeune, Ritchie; Pérez, Hayden, Ki, Almirón; Rondón.

Everton XI: Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne; Gomes, Gueye; Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Bernard; Calvert-Lewin.

Cardiff XI: Etheridge; Peltier, Morrison, Ecuele Manga, Bennett; Gunnarsson, Arter; Hoilett, Camarasa, Murphy; Niasse.

West Ham XI: Fabianski; Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice; Snodgrass, Noble, Lanzini, Felipe Anderson; Chicharito.

Leicester XI: Schmeichel; Ricardo, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell; Ndidi, Tielemans, Maddison; Gray, Barnes, Vardy.

Fulham XI: Sergio Rico; Odoi, Nordtveit, Ream, Bryan; Chambers, McDonald; Babel, Cairney, Sessegnon; Mitrovic.

Southampton XI: Gunn, Valery, Yoshida, Vestegaard, Bednarek, Bertrand, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Remond, Ward-Prowse, Austin. 

Tottenham XI: Lloris; Walker-Peters, Sánchez, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Sissoko; Lucas Moura, Eriksen, Alli; Kane.

[9 March 2019 14:53 · Callum Rice-Coates]

There's plenty to play for at both ends of the table in today's 3pm kick offs. Spurs are at Southampton, who need points to keep themselves above the bottom three. Tottenham, without a win in three league games, are hoping to strengthen their grip on third place.

At Huddersfield, Bournemouth will be looking to improve their dismal away record. The Cherries have lost 11 of their 14 games on the road this season, but face a Huddersfield team with just two home wins.

Newcastle host Everton at St James' Park, while Cardiff, who occupy the final relegation spot as things stand, face midtable West Ham. And at the King Power Stadium, Brendan Rodgers is looking for his first win as Foxes boss against struggling Fulham.

[9 March 2019 14:58 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Dele Alli makes a welcome return for Spurs today.

 

[9 March 2019 15:02 · Callum Rice-Coates]

The five 3pm kick offs are underway!

[9 March 2019 15:05 · Callum Rice-Coates]

GOAL! Cardiff 1-0 West Ham (Hoilett)

4 minutes

Cardiff take an early lead. An error from Ryan Fredericks allows Victor Camarasa to set up Hoilett, who duly finishes and puts the hosts in front.

[9 March 2019 15:07 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Southampton 0-0 Tottenham

6 minutes

Spurs have started quickly at St Mary's. Harry Kane has already come close twice, firing one shot just wide and another over the bar. Mauricio Pochettino is back at his former club, of course, so he'll be eager to leave with three points.

[9 March 2019 15:14 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Southampton 0-0 Tottenham

12 minutes

Kane has another opportunity, played through by the lively Dele Alli, who is showing no signs of rustiness. Spurs' top scorer gets a shot off and draws a save from Angus Gunn, but the flag is up for offside.

[9 March 2019 15:18 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Leicester 0-0 Fulham

16 minutes

Brendan Rodgers' Leicester are doing most of the early running against Fulham, who are looking for an elusive victory under caretaker boss Scott Parker. Harvey Barnes and Demarai Gray have looked lively in the opening stages.

[9 March 2019 15:18 · Callum Rice-Coates]

GOAL! Newcastle 0-1 Everton (Calvert-Lewin)

18 minutes

Everton lead at St James' Park! Lucas Digne whips in a tantalising cross from the left and Dominic Calvert-Lewin is there to glance a header into the corner.