Erling Haaland scored twice to help Manchester City defeat ailing West Ham United for their fifth consecutive Premier League victory, propelling them to the top of the table.
City are one point ahead of Arsenal, although Mikel Arteta’s side may retake first place later on Saturday if they win against Everton (kickoff 20:00 GMT).
Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham needed a good start to get anything out of their encounter at Etihad Stadium, but that went out the window just five minutes in when Haaland converted at the second attempt after his first effort was saved by Alphonse Areola.
The Hammers were hammered too easily, and immediately after scoring, Norway attacker Haaland managed to send a free header wide from close range, while Tijjani Reijnders forced Areola to make a fine save low down.
The Dutch midfielder did score seven minutes before halftime, collecting Haaland’s pass, jinking forward, and blasting a finish into the roof of the net.
West Ham attempted to claw something back in the second half, but Jarrod Bowen could only reach the side netting from an acute angle and drag another chance wide.
Haaland’s second goal confirmed a miserable Christmas for the Hammers, who remain stuck in the relegation zone.
This was City’s eighth consecutive win in all competitions, and Pep Guardiola’s side is beginning to put together the type of streak that will see them raise some significant trophies at the end of the season.
The Spaniard stated early in the season that City needed to be within touching distance of Arsenal by the turn of the year if they were to compete for the title, and at this point, they appear to be pursuing the Gunners all the way.
Haaland’s early goal and 69th-minute strike continued an incredible season in which he has scored 19 league goals and 38 overall for club and country—and he might have completed his hat-trick in injury time but pulled it wide of the far post.
When Reijnders scored the second goal on 38 minutes, there was no uncertainty about the outcome, as City extended their unbeaten run against relegation-threatened clubs to 48 games—an amazing streak that dates back to 2008.
Areola denied Phil Foden and Savinho late on to save his team from a hammering, but City’s comfortable victory means they have not lost to West Ham in 20 league games and are beginning to look imperious as they seek another crown.
The West Ham fans who had traveled from London to Manchester saw their hopes for a surprise victory dashed within five minutes of kickoff.
Nuno replaced Graham Potter in September, but the team has struggled under his leadership, winning only two games and going without a win in their last six league games.
It leaves them 18th in the table, three points from safety, but that margin might expand with Leeds and Nottingham Forest due to play this weekend.
Bowen had a few chances, but aside from Crysensio Summerville’s effort that hit Gianluigi Donnarumma in the face and Lucas Paqueta’s well-placed free kick, the Italy goalkeeper kept his third league clean sheet.
West Ham have been in the bottom three at Christmas five times before, but they can take encouragement from the fact that they survived relegation on the two prior instances when they were not at the bottom of the standings—in 2006-07 and 2009-10.
