West Ham 1-3 Manchester Metropolis: Erling Haaland scores one other hat-trick as champions keep excellent begin

Manchester Metropolis took full benefit of Arsenal’s slip-up at house to Brighton to maneuver clear on the high of the nascent Premier League desk as one other beautiful Erling Haaland hat-trick secured a 3-1 win at West Ham on Saturday Night time Soccer.

The Gunners needed to accept some extent earlier on Saturday after Declan Rice’s controversial purple card value his facet two factors – and Haaland’s first-half double set the defending champions on their approach to sustaining their excellent begin to the brand new marketing campaign within the capital.

Haaland then turned the primary participant to attain a hat-trick in two of an English group’s first three league video games in a season since Paul Jewell for Bradford in 1994/95. What a diamond he’s.

West Ham – who sit in thirteenth place on three factors – may need conceded from Metropolis’s first assault as Jack Grealish discovered Bernardo Silva on the overlap however his dinked cross was headed over by Haaland. The Norwegian did not dwell on the miss, breaking the impasse not lengthy after.

Lucas Paqueta was sloppy in possession as Silva pinched the ball off his toes to launch the striker, who completed with ease low past Alphonse Areola (10).

Metropolis got here inside inches of doubling their lead when Kevin De Bruyne, picked out by Jeremy Doku, smacked the submit – and moments later, the hosts levelled in fortuitous circumstances.

Jarrod Bowen was discovered down the fitting channel and after Josko Gvardiol afforded him an excessive amount of area to cross, Ruben Dias diverted the ball previous Ederson in his makes an attempt to intercept (19).

It briefly sparked West Ham into life, however Metropolis gathered themselves and restored their lead 11 minutes later. This time, he was arrange by the spectacular Rico Lewis earlier than one contact out of his ft was adopted by a devastating end above Areola.

Sky Sports activities’ Micah Richards mentioned: “I think the break in the summer did him a world of good. His energy, his body language has been outstanding.”

Lukasz Fabianski changed Areola on the break nevertheless it did not unsettle the hosts, who got here inside inches of equalising for a second time when Kudus’ shot crashed in opposition to the woodwork having been launched by Bowen.

Dias did not convert De Bruyne’s cross to maintain the competition alive. West Ham persevered as Kudus stole the ball from Silva to arrange the substitute Niclas Fullkrug. His lay-off invited Tomas Soucek to shoot however he dragged his effort extensive.

Then Metropolis – and Haaland – strode clear. Matheus Nunes’ pretty weighted go despatched the striker on his approach with a trademark lofted end finishing his eleventh hat-trick for Metropolis, and twenty fourth of his skilled profession (83).

Haaland takes hat-trick roadshow from Manchester to London

Noel Gallagher was in attendance. The band is again collectively and whereas the Oasis lead guitarist may need been the centre of consideration for many of Britain this week, Erling Haaland has actually tried his finest to steal his thunder.

The Norwegian took his very personal hat-trick roadshow from Manchester to London. Sixty-nine Premier League video games since coming to England, 70 targets. Welcome to the present. Haaland is king in terms of the Premier League, with 19 targets in 11 appearances in the course of the month of August.

Three in opposition to Ipswich City final weekend, one other three on the London Stadium, and three wins from three for Manchester Metropolis.

Guardiola had warned the striker was primed to spearhead his facet’s pursuit of a fifth straight league title, claiming he was in a greater place now than he has been since he first arrived on the membership.

Whereas lots of his team-mates rested after enjoying at Euro 2024, Haaland loved a full pre-season with Metropolis. Having began the marketing campaign on the entrance foot, he appears to be like set to eclipse the 52 targets scored throughout his first marketing campaign on the membership.

Richards added: “Haaland was the difference. His ruthlessness in front of goal is why he has scored so many.

“It is extraordinary. He is among the best I’ve ever seen. Every thing about his efficiency as we speak was high notch.”

Is he one of the best ever? Positively, perhaps.

Lopetegui: A bit mistake, they punish you

West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui:

“It is true City is one of the best teams around the world for sure, in history, but it is true too that in the second half we have been very close to a draw.

“The beginning has been excellent for us too, however in opposition to this type of group should you make a mistake they do not forgive. That is the distinction they’ve, one of many variations. A bit mistake they punish you, they punish us. One dangerous second for us.

“If you don’t take your chances in the end they will not forgive you. It is a frustration as the players gave a big effort and in the second half we deserved more. They have incredible players with a lot of solutions but I am frustrated for my players as they deserved more.”

Pep: It’s a must to let Erling do what he desires

Manchester Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola:

“We played really good. West Ham are always dangerous. [Lucas] Paqueta can attack with [Mohammed] Kudus, the sense of danger is never over.

“We performed rather well, it was an unlucky aim in opposition to. The second half was extra open however we managed it higher and the efficiency is sweet. Formally the pre-season is now over. We performed one recreation per week and it was an excellent season. Now they play two per week.”

On Erling Haaland, Guardiola added: “From the start he was unbelievable. The second aim, even the primary. The third aim is one thing distinctive. With this mindset he has, all the things he can do. The numbers with the quick age and the video games he is performed. He is beloved for what he does on the pitch.

“You have to let him do what he wants. He scored three goals today but he didn’t lose one ball. Today is one of the games where he has played the best in all situations. When you see the games and see what we want to do, he understands because he is a smart guy. He wants to score goals.”

Haaland: I’m prepared for extra

Participant-of-the-match Haaland, when requested the way it feels to attain his first away hat-trick within the Premier League:

“I did not know that, to be honest, but I guess it is a great thing. I am happy. And, of course, the three points is the most important thing.

“I really feel good. I really feel energised. I had a protracted trip and a protracted pre-season so I’m feeling good. The years I’ve been right here it has gone actually fast – like, bam, bam, bam – so now I’ve obtained a bit relaxation in my physique and my ft. I really feel actually good now and I’m prepared for extra.

“Only footballers know how important it is to have a long enough break. In the end, you need to calm down your body and your mind because it is a long season and it is not as easy as people think.

“That is what I’ve been doing my entire life, precisely this motion. However usually we do not meet these form of groups. Usually, they drop way more. However clearly West Ham wanted a aim and the road was greater so I had the prospect to go in behind.”

Redknapp: Beauty and the beast from Haaland

Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Redknapp:

“What I’ve loved about his performance today is his first touch. For the first goal it allows him to open up his body and roll it into the corner.

“For the second aim, his proper foot chops it again onto his left foot and that enabled him to hit.

“The first goal was a thing of beauty. That was a beast. Beauty and the beast today. What’s terrifying for every defender is that he looks better than ever.

“He appears to be like assured and he appears to be like completely happy. Each participant smiles once they have the hat-trick ball however you may see it earlier than the sport. Final season, he scored a great deal of targets however they had been more durable to return by.

“Here, he scored different types of goals. It was the full repertoire. He bludgeons it for his second and he caresses the third. It was beautiful to see. I don’t know how you stop this guy.”

West Ham’s woeful file – Opta stats

• West Ham are winless in 10 Premier League house video games in opposition to Man Metropolis (D3 L7), solely in opposition to Man Utd between February 1994 and November 2005 have they been on an extended such run with out victory in opposition to a single opponent (11 video games).
• Manchester Metropolis are unbeaten in all 17 of their Premier League video games in opposition to West Ham beneath Pep Guardiola (W15 D2), probably the most a supervisor has confronted a selected opponent with out ever dropping within the competitors’s historical past.
• Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Haaland has scored seven targets within the first three Premier League video games of 2024/25, greater than another participant in a group’s opening three video games of a season.
• Manchester Metropolis have gained 19 of their 22 Premier League video games in 2024 (D3), solely Manchester Metropolis themselves in 2019 have ever gained extra of their first 22 league video games in a calendar yr in English Soccer (W20 D1 L1).

Story of the match in stats

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