West Ham United vs Manchester City. Premier League.
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Report and free match highlights as Manchester City make it three wins from their opening three Premier League games by seeing off a spirited West Ham at the London Stadium thanks to another hat-trick of Erling Haaland goals; Ruben Dias own goal had hauled hosts level
Sunday 1 September 2024 07:10, UK
Manchester City took full advantage of Arsenal's slip-up at home to Brighton to move clear at the top of the nascent Premier League table as another stunning Erling Haaland hat-trick secured a 3-1 win at West Ham on Saturday Night Football.
The Gunners had to settle for a point earlier on Saturday after Declan Rice's controversial red card cost his side two points - and Haaland's first-half double set the defending champions on their way to maintaining their perfect start to the new campaign in the capital.
Haaland then became the first player to score a hat-trick in two of an English team's first three league games in a season since Paul Jewell for Bradford in 1994/95. What a diamond he is.
West Ham - who sit in 13th place on three points - might have conceded from City's first attack as Jack Grealish found Bernardo Silva on the overlap but his dinked cross was headed over by Haaland. The Norwegian didn't dwell on the miss, breaking the deadlock not long after.
Lucas Paqueta was sloppy in possession as Silva pinched the ball off his toes to release the striker, who finished with ease low beyond Alphonse Areola (10).
City came within inches of doubling their lead when Kevin De Bruyne, picked out by Jeremy Doku, smacked the post - and moments later, the hosts levelled in fortuitous circumstances.
Jarrod Bowen was found down the right channel and after Josko Gvardiol afforded him too much space to cross, Ruben Dias diverted the ball past Ederson in his attempts to intercept (19).
It briefly sparked West Ham into life, but City gathered themselves and restored their lead 11 minutes later. This time, he was set up by the impressive Rico Lewis before one touch out of his feet was followed by a devastating finish above Areola.
Sky Sports' Micah Richards said: "I think the break in the summer did him a world of good. His energy, his body language has been outstanding."
Lukasz Fabianski replaced Areola at the break but it didn't unsettle the hosts, who came within inches of equalising for a second time when Kudus' shot crashed against the woodwork having been released by Bowen.
Dias failed to convert De Bruyne's cross to keep the contest alive. West Ham persevered as Kudus stole the ball from Silva to set up the substitute Niclas Fullkrug. His lay-off invited Tomas Soucek to shoot but he dragged his effort wide.
Then City - and Haaland - strode clear. Matheus Nunes' lovely weighted pass sent the striker on his way with a trademark lofted finish completing his 11th hat-trick for City, and 24th of his professional career (83).
Noel Gallagher was in attendance. The band is back together and while the Oasis lead guitarist might have been the centre of attention for most of Britain this week, Erling Haaland has certainly tried his best to steal his thunder.
The Norwegian took his very own hat-trick roadshow from Manchester to London. Sixty-nine Premier League games since coming to England, 70 goals. Welcome to the show. Haaland is king when it comes to the Premier League, with 19 goals in 11 appearances during the month of August.
Three against Ipswich Town last weekend, another three at the London Stadium, and three wins from three for Manchester City.
Guardiola had warned the striker was primed to spearhead his side's pursuit of a fifth straight league title, claiming he was in a better place now than he has been since he first arrived at the club.
While many of his team-mates rested after playing at Euro 2024, Haaland enjoyed a full pre-season with City. Having started the campaign on the front foot, he looks set to eclipse the 52 goals scored during his first campaign at the club.
Richards added: "Haaland was the difference. His ruthlessness in front of goal is why he has scored so many.
"It's extraordinary. He's one of the best I've ever seen. Everything about his performance today was top notch."
Is he the best ever? Definitely, maybe.
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui:
"It is true City is one of the best teams around the world for sure, in history, but it is true too that in the second half we have been very close to a draw.
"The start has been very good for us too, but against this kind of team if you make a mistake they don't forgive. This is the difference they have, one of the differences. A little mistake they punish you, they punish us. One bad moment for us.
"If you don't take your chances in the end they will not forgive you. It is a frustration as the players gave a big effort and in the second half we deserved more. They have incredible players with a lot of solutions but I am frustrated for my players as they deserved more."
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola:
"We played really good. West Ham are always dangerous. [Lucas] Paqueta can attack with [Mohammed] Kudus, the sense of danger is never over.
"We played really well, it was an unfortunate goal against. The second half was more open but we controlled it better and the performance is good. Officially the pre-season is now over. We played one game a week and it was a super season. Now they play two a week."
On Erling Haaland, Guardiola added: "From the beginning he was unbelievable. The second goal, even the first. The third goal is something unique. With this mindset he has, everything he can do. The numbers with the short age and the games he's played. He's loved for what he does on the pitch.
"You have to let him do what he wants. He scored three goals today but he didn't lose one ball. Today is one of the games where he has played the best in all situations. When you see the games and see what we want to do, he understands because he is a smart guy. He wants to score goals."
Player-of-the-match Haaland, when asked how it feels to score his first away hat-trick in the Premier League:
"I did not know that, to be honest, but I guess it is a great thing. I am happy. And, of course, the three points is the most important thing.
"I feel good. I feel energised. I had a long vacation and a long pre-season so I am feeling good. The years I have been here it has gone really quick - like, bam, bam, bam - so now I have got a little rest in my body and my feet. I feel really good now and I am ready for more.
"Only footballers know how important it is to have a long enough break. In the end, you need to calm down your body and your mind because it is a long season and it is not as easy as people think.
"This is what I have been doing my whole life, exactly this movement. But normally we don't meet these kind of teams. Normally, they drop much more. But obviously West Ham needed a goal and the line was higher so I had the chance to go in behind."
Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp:
"What I've loved about his performance today is his first touch. For the first goal it allows him to open up his body and roll it into the corner.
"For the second goal, his right foot chops it back onto his left foot and that enabled him to hit.
"The first goal was a thing of beauty. That was a beast. Beauty and the beast today. What's terrifying for every defender is that he looks better than ever.
"He looks confident and he looks happy. Every player smiles when they have the hat-trick ball but you could see it before the game. Last season, he scored loads of goals but they were harder to come by.
"Here, he scored different types of goals. It was the full repertoire. He bludgeons it for his second and he caresses the third. It was beautiful to see. I don't know how you stop this guy."
