Only Messi has more league goals for Guardiola than Sterling

What do Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling have in common? Aside from the fact they would be picked last on the playground for a game of basketball, these 5ft-somethings stand tall on a podium of Pep Guardiola's greatest goalscorers.

Messi takes gold, obviously. He scored a grand total of 138 league goals under Guardiola. You might think Aguero would then take silver. You would be correct, with 82 to his name, but he is not alone.

Joining Aguero on 82 is Sterling, whose perfect hat-trick against Norwich on Saturday took him level with his former Manchester City team-mate. Not bad company the 27-year-old is keeping.

In the absence of Jack Grealish - the £100million man having flared up an old shin injury in training - Sterling tormented Norwich down the left.

He got the ball rolling by using his right foot to score a scorcher into the top corner. 

As soon as Kyle Walker's cross fell to him, he knew to cut inside and shoot, and that was Sterling at his best - when he is operating on instinct.

He followed up that super strike with a header, and then came his chance to take the ball home when referee Andre Marriner awarded City a late penalty.

Sterling's right-foot spot-kick was saved by Angus Gunn but he buried the rebound with his left, making it a 'perfect' afternoon. 

It was only in November when there was talk of the winger leaving City because he was unhappy with his lack of game time.

Word was a loan to Barcelona was in the offing. Sterling stayed and knuckled down, though his £300,000-a-week contract is set to expire next year.

Guardiola wants the club to tie him down to a new deal, though says he does not get involved in the negotiations himself. 

'Nobody doubts how important it is,' said the City