Raheem Sterling and Pep Guardiola have been handed Premier League awards for Manchester City’s sparkling form in December 2021.
Sterling was named Premier League Player of the Month while Guardiola won the Premier League Manager of the Month award for the second consecutive month.
City scored 24 goals and conceded just five as they won seven consecutive games to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Sterling netted five of those goals, including his 100th career Premier League goal from the penalty spot as City beat Wolves.
He netted a brace against Leicester City on Boxing Day and goals against Watford and Newcastle United took his goal tally to seven in the league so far this season.
Sterling said: “I am delighted to win this award again – but December was an amazing month for the whole team.
“The Premier League is the most challenging competition in the world, so to win all seven of our league games throughout the month of December is incredible.
“Contributing to those wins with goals has felt good and that makes me happy.
“Hopefully we can continue this form into the new year because 2021 has been brilliant for us.
“All of us want to win trophies at the end of the season and that is what our aim will be from now until then.”
City’s impressive in the calendar year of 2021 saw the Cityzens reach a record 36 wins in the league in that period of time – smashing the previous record of 33 held by Liverpool since 1982.
Wins at Aston Villa, Watford, Newcastle United and Brentford, as well as impressive triumphs at home against Wolves, Leeds United and Leicester City completed an exceptional month for Guardiola’s team.
And despite only joining the league in 2016, Guardiola now moves to outright third on the all-time list of Premier League Manager of the Month award recipients (11), trailing only Sir Alex Ferguson (27) and Arsene Wenger (15).