Haaland pushes Manchester City to the top

Manchester City went top of the table with a ruthless 3-0 demolition of West Ham United on Saturday as Erling Haaland scored a double to top Cristiano Ronaldo’s Premier League goal tally in less than half-time.

Pep Guardiola’s men have 37 points after 17 games, while Arsenal, on 36, could reclaim top spot when they play Everton later on Saturday. West Ham remain in the danger zone in 18th place with 13 points.

City stamped their authority early on and Haaland struck in the fifth minute when his first-time shot from Phil Foden’s cross was saved by Alphonse Areola. He made no mistake with his second chance, shooting past the keeper.

The Tajani Raiders doubled City’s lead in the 38th minute after Ryan Cerki cut the ball into the Hammers’ goal, cut past a defender and slotted the ball past Haaland. The Norwegian passed to Ryjinders who shot into the roof of the net.

Haaland completed his double in the 69th minute with an easy tap-in after some woeful West Ham defending for City’s 104th league goal when West Ham’s Jean-Clair Tobido tried to clear the ball but it bounced off him and into Haaland’s feet.

Haaland, 25, surpassed Ronaldo’s mark of 103 goals in 236 appearances in England’s top flight, reaching 104 in just 114 games. He has 149 goals for City in all competitions.

Haaland, who missed several other chances, including a shot into the side netting and a header that went just over the bar, looked determined to complete a hat-trick and brought the Etihad Stadium fans to their feet in injury time when he was one-on-one with Areola before sending his shot wide of the far post.

While West Ham, who have gone six games without a win, were written in their own half before the break, they were brighter afterwards, and City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was finally pressed into action with a superb double save early in the second half, stopping first a shot from Crisencio Somerville and then one from Freddie Potts.