Erling Haaland scored twice in a Premier League game for the first time since September as Manchester City brushed West Ham aside at the Etihad.
Savinho was the standout performer for Pep Guardiola’s side, providing the cross that Vladimir Coufal turned into his own net to make it 1-0 and then setting up Haaland’s goals either side of half-time.
Phil Foden scored only his second goal of the season to make it 4-0 before Niclas Fullkrug pulled one back for Julen Lopetegui’s team.
The win takes City one point behind Newcastle United in fifth, who earlier in the day won 2-1 away to Tottenham Hotspur.
Elias Burke analyses the key talking points from City’s comfortable victory…
Was this Savinho’s best game for City?
It has perhaps taken longer than expected, but we’re beginning to see the best of Savinho in a City shirt.
The Brazilian winger made a huge impression in his first two league games for City, starring in the 2-0 win over Chelsea on the opening day and following that up with two assists in the 4-1 demolition of Ipswich Town a week later, but his form has since been checkered.
With City struggling as a collective, Savinho has seen his development in Guardiola’s side stunted. As a versatile forward, his ability to play on either wing or behind the striker will have attracted City’s recruitment staff when he was signed from fellow City Football Group side Troyes in July 2024, but his performance from the left today suggests that should be his primary role moving forwards.
Savinho shone from the start, coming short and running into space beyond the defence, leaving West Ham full-back Coufal in two minds whether to follow him or stick to his position. After just 10 minutes, the 20-year-old made his first game-changing contribution, firing a cross from the left wing aimed at Haaland on the back post, which Coufal turned in.
Half an hour later, Coufal was left on the ground after being turned inside out by the Brazilian, who dropped an inch-perfect cross on Haaland’s head to put City two goals to the good. In the second half, he provided Haaland’s second after collecting the ball on the halfway line and sliding the Norwegian in for the third — putting City out of sight.
Guardiola undoubtedly would have wanted it to come sooner, but the Brazil international Savinho, who starred at last summer’s Copa America, looks to have truly arrived at the Etihad.
Signs of Haaland’s ruthless best
It was only a matter of time until Haaland refound his goalscoring form, and his two finishes either side of half-time indicate he’s on his way back to his best.
It took a while for Haaland to make an impression on the match, spending most of the first half cutting an isolated figure as City struggled to sustain attacks inside West Ham’s half. With chances few and far between, he began to drop deep to become more involved in City’s play and almost had a hand in a potential opener when he span defender Jean-Clair Todibo on the halfway line and slipped in third-man runner Josko Gvardiol. Minutes later, he should have had his second league assist of the season after passing square to Bernardo Silva, whose shot was saved by Alphonse Areola.
However, he earned his standing ovation and shouts of “Haaland” for doing what he does best… sticking the ball in the back of the net. It was through an inspired connection with Savinho that Haaland added his 15th and 16th goals of the season, first nodding in from a deep cross and then dinking a shot over Areola five minutes after the restart.
(Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Haaland has been far from what is expected since he started the campaign in electric form — where he scored 10 goals in the opening five league matches — significantly underperforming his expected goals.
But, against opposition where he has already scored a hat-trick this season, Haaland again displayed his destructive ability in front of goal.
Familiar signs of fragility
Despite City running out comfortable 4-1 winners, familiar issues persist on the defensive end.
Guardiola’s side were given two notable scares in the opening six minutes involving West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus. On both occasions, West Ham profited from City turning the ball over cheaply in their half before springing fast counter-attacks through Lucas Paqueta and Crysencio Summerville. With Rico Lewis inverting into the midfield to offer greater cover in the heart of midfield, City failed to track Kudus, whose direct running set the east Londoners off into the home side’s half.
Owing to Kudus’ wastefulness, more than inspired recovery defending from City, Guardiola’s side escaped without conceding in the first half. Still, Summerville’s pace and Paqueta’s passing and ability to receive the ball under pressure in midfield continued to cause problems for City’s defence.
In that respect, there were improvements in the second half, but the glean was taken off a generally comfortable period with Fullkrug’s consolation goal in the 71st minute. After giving the ball away in their own half, Tomas Soucek was played in behind Kyle Walker, who had come on as a substitute 10 minutes earlier, and crossed in for the German to convert.
While this will go down as City’s most convincing win of the festive season, the issues that have plagued Guardiola have not yet been convincingly addressed.
What did Pep Guardiola say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for Manchester City?
Saturday, January 11: Salford City (H), FA Cup third round, 5.45pm GMT, 12.45pm ET
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