Erling Haaland continued his phenomenal form, scoring his second consecutive hat-trick to lead Manchester City to a commanding 3-1 victory over West Ham United at the London Olympic Stadium on Saturday. This win propels City to the top of the Premier League table with a perfect 9 points from three games, two points clear of Arsenal and Brighton who drew 1-1 earlier in the day.Haaland’s clinical finishing was on full display as he opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a left-footed shot into the top right corner after a pass from Bernardo Silva. West Ham briefly equalized through a Ruben Dias own goal in the 19th minute, but Haaland restored City’s lead in the 30th minute with a powerful shot. The Norwegian striker completed his hat-trick in the 83rd minute, coolly finishing a through ball from substitute Matheus Nunes.This remarkable performance brings Haaland’s tally to an impressive seven goals in just three Premier League matches this season, setting a new record for the most goals scored in the first three games of a season. Moreover, Haaland has now scored 97 goals in 102 appearances for Manchester City, tying Sergio Agüero’s record of eight hat-tricks in Premier League history.City manager Pep Guardiola lauded Haaland’s performance, saying, ‘He played an unbelievable game, not just with the goals, even defensively and offensively, in terms of giving an extra pass’. Guardiola also noted Haaland’s improved pressing and overall contribution to the team’s play.The victory showcased Manchester City’s depth, as they won without key players Rodri and Kyle Walker. Rico Lewis filled in admirably, with Guardiola praising his unique contributions to the team.West Ham, despite the loss, showed moments of promise. Mohammed Kudus hit the woodwork, and manager Julen Lopetegui emphasized the need for clinical finishing against top teams. The defeat leaves West Ham in 14th place with 3 points from their first three games.As the Premier League season unfolds, all eyes will be on Haaland and Manchester City as they continue their quest for another title. Their next challenge comes against Liverpool, who could match City’s perfect start with a win against Manchester United on Sunday.
Key points
- Erling Haaland scored his second consecutive hat-trick, leading Manchester City to a 3-1 victory over West Ham United.
- Manchester City tops the Premier League table with a perfect 9 points from three games.
- Haaland has set a new Premier League record with 7 goals in the first three games of the season.
- Haaland has now scored 97 goals in 102 appearances for Manchester City, tying Sergio Agüero’s record of eight Premier League hat-tricks.
Contradictions👾There is a slight discrepancy in the reporting of West Ham’s position in the league table, with some sources stating 14th place and others 13th place.
