After scoring a hat-trick against Ipswich Town, Erling Haaland replicated his feat against West Ham United as Manchester City earned a 3-1 victory at the London Stadium.
Haaland initially fluffed his lines from close range by skying a header that he would usually be expected to dispatch.
Shortly after, the £51 million man redeemed himself after Bernardo Silva played him clean through on goal after dispossessing Lucas Paqueta and the star striker put City into the lead in the 10th minute.
However, West Ham got back into the contest after Lucas Paqueta’s cross ricocheted onto Ruben Dias into the back of the net.
But the hosts’ joy was shortlived as the Manchester City phenomenon restored the visitors’ lead with a thunderous strike from the edge of the box that kissed the crossbar and fly into the roof of the net.
In the first quarter of the second-half, Julen Lopetegui’s side started to gain control over proceedings and it seemed like sooner rather than later that they would equalise.
But once again, Haaland came to the rescue for Pep Guardiola’s men on Saturday.
Guardiola makes bold claim about Man City star after West Ham win
As Matheus Nunes got on the ball, he instantly played a defence-splitting past that put the Norwegian in a one-on-one situation with Lucas Fabianski.
The £375,000-a-week man timed his run to perfection, took his time and scooped the ball past Fabianski to seal the clash for the Premier League winners.
Three games into the 2024/2025 season, the Leeds-born striker has scored seven goals.
Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, who sits in second place behind the former Borussia Dortmund speedster in the Premier League’s goalscoring charts has scored three goals in two outings.
After Manchester City defeated West Ham, Pep Guardiola initially discussed how it is one of Manchester City’s primary objectives to create chances for Haaland in the final third.
Guardiola said via HaytersTV: “He needs the team and what we need to do is build better and better to give more balls in this final third. When I think, with Rico [Lewis], with Gundo [Ilkay Gundogan], with Kevin [De Bruyne], with Bernardo [Silva], with [James] McAtee, who’s going to play. We’re going to create those situations.”
“They move really well in the small spaces, because in the transitions, the last goal or the first goal for example, Bernardo wins the ball and passes the ball and finish the goal.”
Notably, Pep Guardiola claimed that when Haaland has space to run into behind, no defender in world football can stop him in his tracks.
“With space behind, he’s unstoppable.”
“There’s no central defender, not even with a gun, it’s impossible, he’s so fast, so powerful.”
Erling Haaland is one of the two best players in the world in transition
On the break, it would be fair to name Haaland and Kylian Mbappe as the two best players in the world.
The Real Madrid superstar’s remarkable pace, intelligent movement and quick feet are traits that make him devastating on the counter-attack.
Similarly, Haaland’s incredible speed, massive strides and sheer strength make it virtually impossible for defenders to stop him from scoring a goal.
So far this season, the two-time Premier League winner has scored three such goals; his second strike against Ipswich as well as his first and his third goal against West Ham where the defence could not live with his tremendous pace and power.
In such scenarios, Haaland’s outstanding athleticism and lethal finishing make him a force to be reckoned with.
