Erling Haaland scored twice in the Premier League for the first time in over three months as Manchester City hammered West Ham to equal their biggest win of the season.
Haaland followed up his header late in the first half by calmly chipping over advancing West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola after running on to a through ball from Savinho.
Savinho was arguably City’s best player. It was the Brazilian who forced their 10th-minute opener with a left-wing cross that deflected off Vladimir Coufal and left Areola stranded.
Phil Foden added a fourth, tapping home only his second league goal of the season after Kevin de Bruyne unselfishly set him up rather than attempting to mark his 400th City appearance in style.
West Ham did pull one back when Niclas Fullkrug turned home skipper Tomas Soucek’s cross 19 minutes from time but Crysencio Summerville wasted their best chance after that when he was off target with the goal at his mercy.
It was the first time City have won successive games since October and will at least allow manager Pep Guardiola to feel a corner is starting to be turned after the horror run that has led to the club’s Treble-winning boss questioning himself in a way scarcely imaginable for most of his nine-year reign.
In contrast, West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui remains under intense pressure. This defeat was not on the same scale as the five-goal home loss to Liverpool in the Hammers’ last game.
But former manager David Moyes’ presence in the stands was a reminder the east London outfit have not made the progress anticipated when the Scot left at the end of last season – and Lopetegui could yet pay the price for that.
