MAN CITY 3, WEST HAM 0
Erling Haaland rewrote the Premier League record books on another memorable night for the Norwegian.
The striker scored his 35th league goal of the season to eclipse Alan Shearer and Andy Cole’s total which he had equalled at Fulham on Sunday.
Haaland, who was afforded a guard of honour by his team-mates at the final whistle, now has the most goals in a top-flight season since Ron Davies’ 37 for Southampton in 1966/67.
It was also Haaland’s 51st goal of a remarkable debut season in all competition as he nudges ever closer to legend Dixie Dean’s all-time record of 63.
While Haaland rightly claimed the plaudits, Phil Foden’s third City goal of the night was also a landmark one, the 1,000th one of Pep Guardiola’s time as manager at the Etihad.
“It is a lot of goals and there was joy for us and the fans. I didn’t have a guard of honour today, but maybe next time,” he joked.
City’s first goal came from centre back Nathan Ake as they made it 14 wins and one draw from their last 15 games in all competitions as they have momentum in their favour for their bid to claim the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.
Guardiola was delighted for Haaland, saying: “He deserved it. He is a special striker, and we are pleased for him.
“He is a joy to work with for me as manager and we are all happy for him.”
Guardiola praised Haaland’s qualities, explaining: “He doesn’t become desperate or nervous and he always remains calm and wants to score more goals.
“It was a special occasion, and we had to show how special it was (with the guard of honour) to overcome Alan Shearer and Andy Cole, two top, top strikers.”
Embed from Getty ImagesGuardiola added teams cannot achieve success without top strikers, pointing to Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus and Haaland in his time at the Etihad along with Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli
Stefan Ortega started in goal for the 30-year-old’s Premier League debut with Ederson on the bench as Guardiola made three changes to the side that started the win at Fulham.
Kevin De Bruyne was missing again and Ake started. Bernardo Silva also came in with Manuel Akanji and Ilkay Gundogan dropping to the bench.
Declan Rice was not in the West Ham squad as Moyes made four changes from the 4-3 defeat at Crystal Palace.
Tomas Soucek, Nayef Aguerd and the injured Kurt Zouma were also missing as a sickness bug had swept through the Hammers’ camp leaving them able to field only seven of nine permitted substitutes, and two of them were goalkeepers.
Aaron Cresswell returned to captain the side with Thilo Kehrer, Angelo Ogbonna and Flynn Downes the others coming in to start.
Julian Alvarez forced a diving save from Lukasz Fabianski inside 70 seconds and the keeper also did well to shovel a shot from Riyad Mahrez to safety.
The Hammers, packing their midfield, restricted City to just those two chances in the opening quarter of the game as they stifled Guardiola’s side.
The visitors’ first chance, an angled effort from Jarrod Bowen, was blocked by Ortega before Jack Grealish cut in from the left and saw his shot strike the outside of the post.
City’s best chance in the 32nd minute saw Rodri exchange passes with Haaland and watch as his shot strike the inside of the upright before being scrambled to safety. It was the second time in little more than two minutes they had struck the frame of the goal.
John Stones headed wide when well place but, despite enjoying 80 per cent possession in the opening half, Fabianski had little to do.
The breakthrough came less than five minutes after the restart.
Downes was booked for a foul on Grealish and Mahrez exacted revenge by whipping in the resulting free kick for Ake to head home from six yards at the far post for his third goal of the season and first in the league.
Alvarez forced a diving save from Fabianski before Haaland had his record-breaking moment with 20 minutes left.
The Norwegian raced onto Grealish’s through ball before lifting the ball over Fabianski from just inside the box.
Guardiola made his first two changes with 13 minutes left when Aske and Alvarez were replaced by Akanji and Foden.
City added a third in the 85th minute as Foden scored a cracker. Mahrez’s corner was headed out but only as far as Foden whose volley from 25 yard took a deflection off Emerson Palmieri and flew past Fabianski for his 13th of the season and City’s 1,000th under Guardiola.
City made their third change in the 90th minute, Kalvin Phillips replacing Rodri as their impressive second half showing took them back to the top of the table.