For his next trick... Haaland fires another three as City win again

Erling Haaland scored his second hat-trick in a row as City eased past the Londoners

Manchester City's Erling Haaland (left) scores their side's third goal of the game to complete his hat-trick. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire. 

Premier League: West Ham 1 Manchester City 3

Few footballers play the percentage game better than Erling Haaland, who was hardly involved for 95% of this game, had just six meaningful touches, but won all three points to send Manchester City clear at the top of the table.

His first touch and last touches were rare misses, he also set up team-mate Rico Lewis for another chance that went begging. But in between those moments, Haaland's other three involvements were goals, all finished with his left-foot, an exercise in footballing efficiency that resulted in his eighth hat-trick and 70th goal in 69 Premier League games since signing from Borussia Dortmund two summers ago.

The big Norwegian is an unstoppable machine at times like these, and having scored seven goals in three games so far, is on course for his third successive Golden Boot as the league's top scorer.

This was not quite the stroll in the park the scoreline suggests, however. West Ham started brightly, fought back to equalise after Haaland opened the scoring, and then had chances to peg City back in the second half before the Norwegian wrapped up victory with a late goal.

City have now won 12 successive league games since March, are two points clear of Arsenal and Brighton, who drew earlier in the day, and who would bet against them winning an unprecendented fifth title in a row?

Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Manchester City at the London Stadium in London, England, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Haaland's first goal came after a howler from Lucas Paqueta, who miscontrolled a simple pass 30 yards from his own goal, allowing Bernardo Silva to nip in and nick the ball. The Portuguese played a short pass forward to Haaland, who took one touch to open up his body, and a second to sweep the ball past Alphonse Areola from ten yards.

The way West Ham had started suggested they were going to give City an uncomfortable time, with Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen both threatening to score in the opening three minutes. But City took control and Haaland should have equalised rather than head Silva's cross over the bar. His goal soon after that miss, however, prompted a period of total domination by City, who should have been 3-0 before West Ham equalised, with Kevin De Bruyne denied by the crossbar and then Areola's brilliance.

West Ham's equaliser came out of the blue in the 19th minute, after the ball was worked from defence smartly to Bowen, who ran down the right, cut inside and fired in a low diagonal cross that flew off the shin of Ruben Dias and past Ederson.

It only prompted City to regain control and then the lead, with a superbly worked goal after half-an-hour. Jack Grealish drove from the left into the penalty area, the ball was moved via Silva and Mateo Kovacic to Rico Lewis, who unselfishly played a square pass to Haaland on the right side of the penalty area. The big Norwegian again took one touch to set up his shot, which flew high into the net.

It was his 69th goal in 69 Premier League appearance, a remarkable ratio from a remarkable player.

He creates chances too, teeing up Lewis for what should have been a simple goal before half-time, only to see the youngster lift his shot over the bar from ten yards.

West Ham would not lie down, though, especially the lively Mohammed Kudus, who fired just wide of the far post before half-time and then thumped a shot against the angle of crossbar and near post shortly after the break.

But Pep Guardiola sent on Ilkay Gundogan to regain control of midfield, Mattheus Nunes put Haaland through in the 86th minute and the Norwegian chipped his shot over substitute goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski for three points and another match ball to add to his personal collection.

WEST HAM (4-3-3): Areola 6 (Fabianksi 46); Wan-Bissaka 7, Kilman 6, Mavropanos 6, Emerson 6 (Coufal 70); Rodriguez 6 , Alvarez 6 (Soucek 77), Paqueta 6 ; Bowen 7 (Summerville 86), Antonio 4 (Fullkrug 70), Kudus 8.

MAN CITY (4-3-3): Ederson 7; Lewis 7, Akanji 7, Dias 6, Gvardiol 6 (Walker 88); Silva 7, Kovacic 7, De Bruyne 8 (Ake 88); Doku 6 (Gundogan 68), Haaland 9, Grealish 7 (Nunes 72) 

Ref: Michael Oliver 9/10