Erling Haaland netted a brace in the Premier League for the first time in over three months as Manchester City thrashed West Ham, matching their largest victory of the season.
Haaland doubled his tally after scoring a header late in the first half, then coolly lifted the ball over the onrushing West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, having latched onto a precise through ball from Savinho.
Savinho was arguably City’s standout performer. The Brazilian was instrumental in setting up their opening goal in the 10th minute, delivering a left-wing cross that deflected off Vladimir Coufal and left Areola stranded.
Phil Foden added a fourth, converting only his second league goal of the season after Kevin de Bruyne selflessly squared the ball to him, opting not to mark his 400th City appearance with a goal of his own.
West Ham did manage to pull one back when Niclas Fullkrug finished Tomas Soucek’s cross with 19 minutes remaining, but Crysencio Summerville squandered a golden opportunity shortly after, sending his effort wide with the goal at his mercy.
This was City’s first back-to-back win since October, offering manager Pep Guardiola a sense that his side may be turning the corner after a tough period, which had seen the usually unflappable coach question himself in a way few would have imagined during his nine-year tenure.
On the other hand, West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui remains under significant pressure.
While this loss wasn’t as humiliating as their 5-0 drubbing at home to Liverpool, the presence of David Moyes in the stands served as a reminder that the Hammers have failed to progress as expected since the Scot’s departure. Lopetegui’s position could still be in jeopardy as a result.
Tentative steps forward but issues remain for City
Manchester City have begun 2025 exactly how they would have hoped, and with League Two side Salford visiting in the FA Cup next week, there’s a solid foundation to build on. However, Guardiola will be well aware that their issues are far from resolved.
Rodri’s absence was once again starkly felt in a single moment during a strange opening period. As Rico Lewis struggled to deal with a bouncing ball from a West Ham clearance, Mateo Kovacic attempted to help but failed to anticipate the danger posed by an advancing Crysencio Summerville.
When Lewis turned towards his own goal, Summerville seized the opportunity. One can easily imagine Rodri covering in that situation, but Kovacic was slightly out of position and lacked the pace to recover.
Despite optimism around Rodri’s potential return before the season ends — and at the very least for City’s Club World Cup campaign next summer — Guardiola knows his team will remain vulnerable without a suitable replacement in midfield.
Of the three highly rated players City are reportedly interested in — Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush, Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Khusanov, and Atalanta midfielder Ederson — it is clear that the latter is the most fitting for City’s needs.
However, all three transfers face the challenge of high mid-season prices, with clubs understandably reluctant to lose key players. Atalanta, for example, are currently top of Serie A and chasing their first-ever league title.
These are matters for outgoing sporting director Txiki Begiristain and the club’s executive team to resolve. For now, Guardiola will hope that the 10-day break before his side’s next league fixture will provide some much-needed respite, especially given the injuries to Ederson, Ruben Dias, and John Stones, which left 39-year-old Scott Carson warming up late in the game as Stefan Ortega received treatment for what appeared to be a back issue.
More updates to follow.