Manchester City 4-1 West Ham United Player Ratings: Haaland scores two for City as they hit form in style against woeful Hammers.

Erling Haaland scored a superb brace as Manchester City inflicted a 4-1 defeat on West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium. Savinho was the early star of the game as he forced an own goal from Coufal. He then set up Haaland twice before Foden scored one for the hosts. Fullkrug got one back for the Hammers as they lost again in a disappointing season. The pressure mounts on Loputegui as Pep Guardiola rejoiced in back-to-back wins.

Manchester City and West Ham United came into this game with mixed fortunes. City began to hit form as they smashed Leicester and The Hammers were hammered by Liverpool. This game provided these sides with a perfect chance to turn things around.

West Ham United put up some initial resistance as Kudus was looking dangerous on the break. But the breakthrough in the game arrived early on when Savinho fired a cross into the box. The winger playing with renewed confidence got the ball back and fizzed another cross but it hit Coufal’s foot and flew into the back of the net. Manchester City then took charge of the game after opening the scoring.

West Ham had a lot of promising counterattacks but they just weren’t clinical enough to break City down. City came the closest to scoring the second but Areola made a stunning save. They doubled their lead when Savinho found Haaland with a superb cross and the Norwegian nodded into an empty net.

There was an air of tension around the Etihad as West Ham continued to push for a way back. The game ended as a contest when Haaland got on the end of Savinho’s through-ball and lobbed an onrushing Areola. Kevin De Bruyne then set up an easy finish for Phil Foden to cap off a remarkable night. Fullkrug scored for the Hammers but it merely proved to be a consolation.

City registered back-to-back victories in the league for the first time in ages. They will hold onto their sixth spot after this result and put pressure on Newcastle United. West Ham meanwhile are languishing in the bottom half in this stop-start season for them.

Manchester City Player Ratings vs West Ham United

Goalkeeper

Stefan Ortega: 6/10- Despite West Ham’s dangerous breaks, he wasn’t called into action once. Was beaten comfortably by Fullkrug’s finish.

Defenders

Manuel Akanji: 6.5/10- Defended the wider areas in Gvardiol’s absence and tidied up many times. Let Soucek’s cross go through him easily.

Nathan Ake: 6.5/10- Was sweeping many attacks from West Ham and was in support of Akanji to deal with Fullkrug.

Josko Gvardiol: 6/10- Was often caught out of position by Kudus but luckily wasn’t punished. Failed to get to the goal side as West Ham pulled one back.

Midfielders

Rico Lewis: 6.5/10- Had a lot of freedom to attack the box as City grew comfortable on the ball. Was susceptible as ever while defending.

Mateo Kovacic: 6.5/10- Got skipped past a couple of times in the middle of the park but did recover to put in some strong tackles. Picked up a booking after an ill-timed tackle.

Phil Foden: 7.5/10- Started the game on the right-hand side but was floating all over the park. Added City’s fourth after being teed up by De Bruyne inside the box.

Kevin De Bruyne: 7.5/10- Playing on his favourite right half-space, he was scheming throughout the game with dangerous deliveries. Displayed incredible work ethic as he made a lot of recoveries defensively. Got an easy assist after a mistake from the visitors.

Bernardo Silva: 7/10- Had a great chance to put his side two up ahead but hit Areola with his first-time shot. Barely kept the ball ticking and let others star for the team.

Savinho: 8.5/10- Played with confidence after getting his first goal. His cross forced the own goal but he wasn’t to know yet as he celebrated like the goal was his own. He tormented Coufal to deliver a beautiful cross for Haaland and assisted him once more with a through ball.

Attacker

Erling Haaland: 8/10- Strayed offside early in the game and created a chance before getting on the scoresheet. A fine header across the face of the goal after Areola went missing. Another excellent lob in typical Haaland style to notch up a brace.

Substitutes

Kyle Walker: 5.5/10

Ilkay Gundogan: 6/10

James McAtee: 6/10

Jack Grealish: N/A

Manager

Pep Guardiola: 8/10- Has Pep Guardiola fixed the mini-crisis already? Or is it just the result of playing two of the season’s poorest sides? We will know shortly but the Catalan has done enough to earn praise tonight. His side were hungrier as De Bruyne and Foden showed defensive nous like never before. By bringing Haaland into play, they’re looking solid again. Defensively, Pep has a lot to solve.

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West Ham United Player Ratings vs Manchester City

Goalkeeper

Alphonse Areola: 6/10- A wicked deflection took Savinho’s cross past him into the net. He couldn’t react at all as he was wrong-footed. Produced two great saves to deny Silva and Lewis. Was in no man’s land as City scored their second.

Defenders

Vladimir Coufal: 5/10- Stuck out a foot to block Savinho’s cross but sent it into his own net to register an unfortunate own goal. Savinho gave him a tough time and the Czech Republican couldn’t get near him.

Jean-Clair Todibo: 6/10- Had an important touch to get Haaland’s offload away from Savinho. Was roughed up quite a lot by Haaland and had to leave because of an injury scare.

Max Kilman: 5.5/10- Involved in some risky passes inside his own box. Boldly invited pressure before slipping out of it. Lost Haaland way too easily for the second goal.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 6/10- Made a few recovery runs to cover Foden and De Bruyne prying on City’s right-hand side. Went forward a few times but was quite limited in what he could produce.

Midfielders

Edson Alvarez: 6/10- Had the ball most of any West Ham’s midfielders. Did try to dictate the tempo and created a chance for Summerville.

Tomas Soucek: 6/10- Won a lot of duels in midfield owing to his physicality. Was surpassed easily at times. Set up Fullkrug for the consolation.

Mohammed Kudus: 6.5/10- Was the outlet for West Ham on the right and created a lot of opportunities for the visitors. His decision-making was silly at times on the break.

Lucas Paqueta: 6/10- Took the burden of chance creation in Bowen’s absence. Tried his best to carry the ball and find outlets.

Crusencio Summerville: 6/10- Kept shifting flanks but failed to find the tangible product. Had a header looping and was straight at Ortega.

Attacker

Niclas Fullkrug: 7/10- The striker picked up a silly yellow card early in the game instead of attacking the box. Did pick a goal for himself after a deft finish from a Soucek cross.

Substitutes

Konstantinos Mavropanos: 5.5/10

Luis Guilherme: 6/10

Manager

Julen Lopetegui: 4/10- Was yellow-carded when a call didn’t go his team’s way. His tactics at this point aren’t getting across to the team. They are getting outplayed in every third of the pitch and a change might happen on the touchlines sooner than we expect.

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