Man City Dominate West Ham 3-0; Haaland Leads the Way Amid Hammers’ Struggles
Manchester City delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium, with Erling Haaland playing a decisive role in all three goals, further highlighting his exceptional form this season. The win temporarily lifted City to the top of the Premier League, displacing Arsenal, although the Gunners reclaimed the position following their victory against Everton later on Saturday. For West Ham, the defeat marks their tenth loss of a disappointing campaign and leaves them marooned in the relegation zone, three points adrift of safety.
The match began with City asserting their dominance early. Phil Foden’s precise cross found Haaland, who made no mistake in opening the scoring, demonstrating his ability to exploit the space created by City’s fluid attacking movements. The goal set the tone for a match that saw City dictate possession and control proceedings. The visitors struggled to build any meaningful attacks, and their defensive lapses were ruthlessly punished.
City’s second goal epitomised their cohesive attacking style. A slick team move culminated in Tijjani Reijnders slotting home with composure, finishing off a sequence of passes that highlighted the hosts’ technical superiority. Haaland’s presence was pivotal, drawing defenders and creating the space that allowed Reijnders to finish with ease. By the time Haaland netted his second later in the game—his 19th Premier League goal of the season—the outcome was effectively settled, leaving West Ham with little hope of a comeback.
Despite being on the receiving end of a heavy defeat, West Ham showed flashes of resilience, particularly in the second half. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledged that his team improved after the interval, creating a few half-chances, including an effort by Crysencio Summerville that was superbly saved by City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Nevertheless, the Hammers’ lack of conviction and consistency meant their efforts fell short, and the result felt inevitable once City’s momentum gathered pace.
Manchester City 3-0 West Ham: Erling Haaland Stars as Hammers’ Relegation Woes Deepen
Haaland’s performance was a masterclass in efficiency. With just 14 touches—the fewest of any player on the pitch—he contributed to all three of City’s goals. Over half of his touches occurred inside West Ham’s penalty area, resulting in multiple goal attempts and an expected goals (xG) of 1.32, more than double that of any other player on the field. Haaland thrives on intelligent positioning and the movement of teammates like Foden, Reijnders, and Rayan Cherki, proving once again that his impact extends far beyond traditional statistics.
The Norwegian striker now joins an elite group of players to reach 19 goals before Christmas, a list that includes Premier League legends such as Andy Cole, Kevin Phillips, and Luis Suarez. This includes scoring the opening goal in ten different matches this season, underlining his knack for setting the tone in crucial fixtures.
City manager Pep Guardiola praised Haaland’s contribution but also stressed the need for improvement. “We did many good things. Thanks to Erling for the goals. Defensively we are improving. But with the ball, we were away. The way we attack depends on how opponents defend, and we have to be in the right positions to make our play more fluid,” Guardiola said. He acknowledged that while the result was pleasing, consistency and tactical refinement will be vital if City are to remain title contenders deep into the season.
For West Ham, the defeat is a stark reminder of their struggles in the Premier League. Nuno Espirito Santo admitted that the team’s performance, particularly in the first half, was disappointing. “We are concerned for the situation. It requires a lot of improvement from ourselves. We started the game really badly, giving balls away. Everything becomes harder when you concede so early,” Nuno said. While he highlighted some improvement after the break, the early concession and lack of execution ensured that City maintained control throughout.
The loss marks the fifth time West Ham have found themselves in the relegation zone at Christmas. Despite surviving previous scares in past seasons, their current campaign offers little hope of a turnaround without significant improvement. The team’s vulnerability at both ends of the pitch has been exposed repeatedly, and the pressure to perform in the coming weeks is immense.
As Manchester City continue their relentless pursuit of Premier League glory, Haaland’s clinical finishing and overall influence will remain a key factor. For West Ham, the priority is urgent self-reflection and improvement, with survival now firmly in the spotlight. The 3-0 defeat underscores the gulf in quality between the sides on the day, and fans will hope that lessons learned can prevent further descent into relegation danger.
Ultimately, the match showcased Haaland’s brilliance and City’s attacking cohesion while leaving West Ham with mounting concerns. With the festive period underway, the pressure is on Nuno and his squad to turn results around and climb out of the Premier League’s relegation zone. The road ahead promises challenges, but City’s clinical performance, led by Haaland, serves as a benchmark of the level required at the top of English football.
Source- Skysport
