Haaland sets new record as City return to Premier League summit | OneFootball

City overcame West Ham's stubborn resistance to eventually win 3-0 and return to the top of the Premier League table.

On what was an historic night at the Etihad, Nathan Ake headed the Blues in front to calm the nerves of the home support five minutes into the second period.

Erling Haaland doubled City's lead as he scored the goal that makes him the Premier :League's all-time record goal-scorer with 35 - he has 51 in all competitions - and his sumptuous chip was fitting of such a landmark.

Phil Foden''s stunning late colley wrapped up victory - the 1000th goal of Pep Guardiola's era at the Club - though it was a hard-earned three points.

What happened?

City needed a quick response after Arsenal's 3-1 win over Chelsea.

Julian Alvarez and Riyad Mahrez both tested West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski in the opening 20 minutes, but the visitors were otherwise organised and fairly comfortable and pressed high.

Indeed, David Moyes’ team had clearly done their homework and arrived with a game plan that seemed to focus on blocking the passing channels and trying to allow as few pockets of space as possible.

And with Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen, the Hammers carried a very real threat on the counter-attack.

But just past the half-hour, City twice came within a coat of paint of taking the lead in the space of a couple of minutes.

First Jack Grealish cut in from he left before seeing his low shot strike the outside of the right post – and then Rodrigo played a clever one-two with Erling Haaland that ended with the Spaniard’s placed shot beating the keeper but striking the inside of the left post and rolling across goal and eventually out of play.

City continued to probe and work hard, but the Hammers went into the break having successful repelled the Blues’ numerous attempts to break the deadlock.

City knew the longer the visitors held out, so their belief that they could take a point - or more - would steadily increase.

An early second-half goal was needed to break that resolve - and five minutes in, that's exactly what the Blues got.

A foul on Grealish some 30 yards out on the left gave Riyad Mahrez the chance to float a free-kick into the box and the Algerian's pinpoint cross was headed home at the far post by the returning Nathan Ake.

The relief was palpable, but there was still hard work to be done.

West Ham continued to threaten and there was still tension in the stadium as the visitors stepped up their efforts, but on 70 minutes, the roof nearly came off the Etihad.

Grealish burst forward on the counter before feeding the ball into the path of Haaland who drew Fabianski off his line before chipping the ball over the Hammers keeper and into the net.

It was his 51st of an incredible season and set a new all-time Premier League record with his 35th of the campaign.

The celebrations were long and loud as the Etihad stood to cheer a quite magnificent achievement.

And the icing on the cake came when sub Phil Foden thumped a 20-yard volley home five minutes from time to make it 3-0 and seal the three points that take City back to the Premier League summit.

It was also the 1000th goal og Guardiola's Manchester City reign - and what a reign it has been so far.

Superb Ake so important for City

Pep Guardiola has said many times this season how vital Nathan Ake has become for City.

The Dutch defender,  has never given less than his all in sky blue, but this season he has risen to another level.

Against the Hammers he defended stoically throughout but on a night when the Blues needed to find a breakthrough, it was Ake who was the man on the spot with a well timed header making it 1-0.

He fully deserved his ovation when he came off after 72 minutes and has been a rock all season for the Blues.

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Star Man

Flawless display from the Dutch defender...

What it means...

City return to the top of the Premier League table.

The Blues are a point clear of Arsenal and we have played one game fewer than the Gunners.

Our goal difference is now 15 better than the North Londoners'.

What's next?

City host Leeds United, now under the management of Sam Allardyce, at the Etihad on Saturday (kick-off 15:00 UK).

Leeds are fourth bottom of the Premier League and only out of the relegation places on goal difference.

The visitors have four games remaining.

The following Tuesday, City jet out to Spain to take on Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final, first leg.

PEP REACTION

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Team Notes

City XI: Ortega Moreno, Walker (c), Ake (Akanji 77), Stones, Dias, Rodrigo (Phillips 90+1), Bernardo, Grealish, Mahrez, Alvarez (Foden 77), Haaland

Subs: Ederson, Gundogan, Laporte, Gomez, Perrone, Lewis

West Ham XI: Fabianski, Coufal (Johnson 61), Kehrer, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Emerson, Downes, Fornals, Paqueta, Bowen (Benrahma. 79), Antonio (Ings 67).

Subs: Areola, Anang, Lanzini, Cornet

Stats and Milestones

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