Sergio Aguero fired four second-half goals as Manchester City condemned Leicester City to a 5-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
Kevin De Bruyne was the architect of the victory, producing a hat-trick of assists, the first coming after just two minutes and five seconds, which Sterling converted from close range.
Leicester levelled on 24 minutes when Jamie Vardy pounced on a loose defensive pass.
But City took control after the interval, De Bruyne curling a 48th-minute pass for Aguero to score for the seventh successive home match in all competitions.
Five minutes later Aguero raced on to the Belgian’s through-ball to fire through Kasper Schmeichel.
Schmeichel then gifted possession to Aguero, who completed his eighth Premier League hat-trick.
The Argentinian concluded a memorable evening by crashing a shot in off the bar from the area’s edge.
Man City are 16 points clear at the top. Leicester remain eighth.
