By Score More
London, August 31, 2024 — Erling Haaland once again stole the show, scoring a hat-trick to lead Manchester City to a 3-1 victory over West Ham, propelling the Citizens to the top of the Premier League table. With Arsenal and Brighton faltering, City now sits alone at the summit with a perfect nine points from three matches.
Haaland, fresh off another hat-trick against Ipswich last weekend, was unstoppable at the London Stadium. The Norwegian sensation opened the scoring in the 10th minute, capitalizing on a crucial interception by Bernardo Silva, who quickly fed the ball to Haaland for a precise low finish.
Despite City’s dominance, West Ham managed to equalize unexpectedly when a cross from Jarrod Bowen deflected off Rúben Dias and into the back of his net in the 19th minute. Their own goal brought the Hammers level, but their joy was short-lived.
Manchester City continued to press forward relentlessly, and Haaland restored their lead just past the half-hour mark with a well-timed finish from a Lewis assist. By halftime, City was back in control, leading 2-1.
The second half saw West Ham threaten again, with Kudus rattling Ederson’s right post in the 52nd minute. The Hammers relied on counter-attacks to trouble the visitors, but their lack of precision in front of goal proved costly.
As the match progressed, Manchester City absorbed the pressure and delivered the final blow in the 83rd minute. Substitute Matheus Nunes intercepted the ball in midfield and released Haaland, who coolly slotted home his third goal of the game, sealing the 3-1 victory.
With this win, Manchester City solidified their position at the top of the table. Pep Guardiola’s side can now watch Sunday’s clash between Liverpool and Manchester United with confidence, knowing their place at the summit is secure, at least for now.