Back-to-back Haaland treble maintains City's perfect start

Erling Haaland maintained his blistering start to the new Premier League season as he struck a back-to-back hat-trick to fire City a 3-1 win at West Ham and so ensure Pep Guardiola’s side retain top spot.

The Norwegian opened the scoring at the London Stadium on 10 minutes and though a Ruben Dias own goal then drew the hosts level, Haaland struck again on the half hour to deservedly restore our lead.

And he then capped things off by firing home again on 84 minutes to follow up last week's Ipswich treble in sensational style to maintain City's perfect start to the new campaign.

It took Haaland’s tally for the season to seven – and made it 97 goals in total since he moved to the Etihad. It was also his 11th City hat-trick and 24th overall.

In truth victory was no less than City deserved as we also extended our magnificent league record at the London Stadium where we remain unbeaten in the league.

What happened

Before kick-off there was a rousing minute’s applause in honour of late City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson who sadly passed away earlier this week.

Once the action got under way there was an immediate double early scare for City.

First, Mikahil Antonio almost latched onto a dangerous Mohammed Kudus looping cross with Josko Gvardiol needing to be alert before Ederson was then required to palm away a stinging Jared Bowen shot with barely three minutes on the clock.

City responded in kind however and immediately seized control of the game by the scruff of the neck.

A sumptuous passing move ended with Haaland heading over from a deft Bernardo Silva cross.

Another fine City move down West Ham’s left flank sparked by Jack Grealish saw a Kevin De Bruyne goal bound shot blocked in the box.

But City were not to denied as Haaland struck for his fifth goal of the season on 11 minutes.

Bernardo showed great awareness to intercept Emerson’s attempted pass to Paqueta in the middle of the Hammers box before threading a precision pass into the path of the onrushing Haaland.

The Norwegian demonstrated his supreme predatory instinct once again, firing past Alphonse Areola with aplomb to power the reigning champions ahead.

Within two minutes City carved out another fine opportunity, De Bruyne’s teasing ball finding Grealish free only for the England man to fire wide.

Areola was then called into action again to claw away an instinctive KDB effort from the left edge of the West Ham box after Grealish had teed up the City skipper.

It was all one-way traffic and only the woodwork then denied De Bruyne on 18 minutes after he was found by Jeremy Doku, the Belgian’s 18-yard effort rebounding off the post with Grealish then seeing a follow-up arrow agonisingly wide.

For all the world it appeared a case of when not if City extended our lead.

Instead, out of nowhere, the hosts suddenly drew level in hugely fortuitous circumstances on 21 minutes.

A rare West Ham attack saw Bowen ping in a hopeful cross from the right wing and the ball struck Ruben Dias on the knee to divert past a helpless Ederson and into the net.

City were not to be denied however and it was that man Haaland again who deservedly restored our lead on 30 minutes.

A patient passage of play ended with Rico Lewis finding Haaland in space on the right edge of the box.

The big man needed no second invitation to lash home a stunning left footed strike that flew past Areola for his sixth goal of the campaign and fifth in three visits to the London Stadium.

Haaland almost then turned provider, executing a sublime pass to Lewis as the defender powered into the Hammers box, but Rico’s shot proved just too strong.

The hosts were forced into a change at the break with substitute goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski coming in for the injured Alphonse Areola.

And it was West Ham who almost drew first blood in the second half, with a rapid breakaway ending with Mohammed Kudus’s 53rd minute left foot strike thumping the outside of the post seconds after Dias had been denied by Max Kilman at the other end.

It then needed a superbly timed tackle from Manuel Akanji to deny Antonio from close range as the Hammers enjoyed their best spell of the game.

With Ilkay Gundogan introduced for Jeremy Doku to provide from fresh legs, Dias was then inches away from netting for City, the defender almost reaching De Bruyne’s inviting 69th minute cross as he ghosted in at the far post.

City and Haaland were not to be denied though and a precise 85th minute pass from sub Matheus Nunes put Haaland free and the big man did what he does best... finish in style to set the seal on another amazing display.

Teams

WEST HAM: Areola (Fabianski 45), Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson (Coufal 70), Rodríguez, Álvarez (Soucek 77), Paquetá, Bowen ©, Kudus, Antonio (Füllkrug 70)

Subs: Casey, Todibo, Irving, Guilherme, Summerville

CITY XI: Ederson, Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol (Ake 86), Kovacic, De Bruyne (C) (Walker 86), Bernardo, Doku (Gundogan 68), Grealish (Nunes 72), Haaland

Subs: Ortega Moreno, Stones, Rodrigo, O'Reilly, McAtee

Player of the match

There were a host of deserving candidates with Kevin De Bruyne, Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva alongst those to catch the eye.

However, it’s hard to look past hitman Haaland.

Another hat-trick took his tally for the season to seven and lifted his overall City count to an astonishing 97.

Despite all his incredible exploits of his first two seasons it looks as if the Norwegian is actually getting even better.

File under goal machine.

Seven up

Haaland’s treble London Stadium took his tally for the season to seven– and means that after three games he has the highest tally at this stage of the season in Premier League history.

Appropriately enough, Erling beat the record set by former City star Edin Dzeko who claimed off six back in 2011/12.

It’s also now 70 Premier League goals in 69 Premier League games.

Haaland is also the first player to score a hat-trick in two of a team’s first three league games in a season since 1994 when Paul Jewell achieved the feat for Bradford.

City have also now scored more Premier League hat-tricks (43) than any other side in the competition's history.

 Just astonishing.

100 up

While all the headlines understandably went to Haaland, for Manuel Akanji it was also a day to remember.

Our Swiss defender chalked up his 100th appearance since moving to City two years ago.

Akanji was again at his assured, disciplined best, adding a combination of silk and steel to the heart of the City backline.

What a signing he has proved to be.

Pep’s verdict

"From the beginning Erling 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.

"He wants to score goals."

HAALAND verdict

"I feel good. I feel energised. I had a long vacation and a long pre-season. I’m feeling good.

"The years here have gone quick and it’s been going like bam bam bam, now I have a little bit of rest in my body and my feet.

"I feel really good now and I’m ready for more.

"I feel more refreshed. So when you do that you can practice on things you want to become better at out of training. I feel good. I want to become better. I’m happy."

What it means

City retain top spot in the Premier League with a perfect nine point haul from our first three games.

Arsenal and Brighton, who drew 1-1 earlier on Saturday, are in joint second with seven points.

Along with Liverpool, who visit Manchester United tomorrow, we are the only Premier League side to have a perfect record but Arne Slot’s side have only played two games so far.

What’s next

The league goes into brief fortnight’s hiatus with the focus instead switching to the September international break.

City return to Premier League action on Saturday, September 14 when we play host to Brentford at the Etihad.

Kick-off against Thomas Frank’s side is slated for 3pm (UK).