Julian Alvarez shows Man City they can cope without Jude Bellingham in West Ham win

Just as we thought Pep Guardiola may have settled on a favoured Manchester City starting XI, he has begun to rotate in unexpected ways. Eyebrows were raised an hour before kick-off against West Ham when it became clear Stefan Ortega would be starting a Premier League for City before Kalvin Phillips even has, as Ederson dropped to the bench.

Yet in his pre-match interview the Blues boss explained that even a goalkeeper isn't immune from the stress and strain of a relentless football calendar, especially mentally, and giving him the night off would be a positive. Ortega didn't let the side down and stepped up on the few occasions he was called upon.

RATINGS: Ake and Grealish great in win vs West Ham

Guardiola has often talked about the strain his players are under and as a result how hard winning a treble is when so many draining matches come in quick succession. If he's taking steps to ensure even his goalkeeper is kept fresh, it's clear he is going out to make the most of the great position his side finds itself in and claim a historic achievement.

The 3-0 win showed exactly how far City have come and how much they've grown this season, even if having Erling Haaland is a big help. The Blues were left frustrated by a well-drilled, disciplined and resolute West Ham in the opening half, who didn't bite on the pressing taps and made it difficult to play through. With the going tough, some players got a little sloppy on the ball and with their distribution before a goalless half ended.

It's the sort of set-up we've seen plenty of times before but whereas in the past City would continue to struggle, now they're able to quickly figure out how to unlock stubborn defences and reach a scoreline that makes the match seem much