West Ham vs Man City LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Erling Haaland goals seal opening win
West Ham 0-2 Manchester City: Pep Guardiola’s champions made a perfect start as Haaland scored twice on his Premier League debut
Erling Haaland scored twice on his Premier League debut as Manchester City opened their title defence with a dominant win at West Ham United.
The striker got off the mark in the first half at the London Stadium as he won and then converted a penalty to give City a deserved lead.
West Ham struggled in the heat as City took charge of the ball and it wasn’t until the hour mark that David Moyes’ side posed any questions of the champions.
But it left space at the other end and Kevin De Bruyne’s perfect pass released Haaland, as the 22-year-old finished under Alphonse Areola to double City’s lead.
Relive the action from the London Stadium below after Manchester United were beaten by Brighton
Manchester United 0-0 Brighton
11 mins: Brighton have taken an aggressive approach at Old Trafford, playing a back three but pushing onto United and almost doing a man-marking job in midfield. United are looking to stretch them with Maguire switching play out to Rashford, who has seen more of the ball than Sancho in the early stages. United have had lots of the ball with 80 per cent possession so far.
Manchester United 0-0 Brighton
8 mins: Another scare for United as Fred this time is caught by Trossard close to his goal. But the midfielder makes ammends as he slides in to block Trossard as he shaped to shoot.
Manchester United 0-0 Brighton
6 mins: Chance! United should be ahead. McTominay makes a run into the box and the ball breaks to Fernandes from 12 yards out. Fernandes can’t keep his shot down and it blazes over the bar, just as you expected him to guide it into the corner.
Manchester United 0-0 Brighton
3 mins: Rashford is pulling very wide on the left, with Sancho looking to do the same on the opposite flank. Martinez has started on the left of the centre back pair with Maguire on the right side. Maguire gets a cheer from the Stretford End as he wins a free kick at his corner flag.
Kick off! Manchester United 0-0 Brighton
And an early chance for Brighton in just 15 seconds! Dalot is caught on the ball and Trossard ripples the side netting with a volley from the angle.
An early scare for United but they survive. Eriksen has indeed lined up as United’s false nine.
Manchester United vs Brighton
The players are in the tunnel and we are just moments away from Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag era getting underway in the Premeir League at Old Trafford.
United initially lined up on the wrong side of the tunnel and there is an awkward moment as Harry Maguire and Lewis Dunk swap places.
Manchester United vs Brighton
Erik ten Hag to Sky Sports, being peppered with questions on Cristiano Ronaldo. “He’s working really hard to get to the right fitness levels,” the Manchester United manager repeats. “It will take time, he only started pre-season last week. We have to see [when he starts]. It depends on how quickly he is progressing. He will do everything to get to the fitness levels as soon as possible.”
On who will play the striker role, Ten Hag reveals: “It can be Bruno but I think most of the time it will be Christian Eriksen, he has done it before. I want to see a team performance. It is everything, the most important. Brighton is a tough opponent. They play decent football in different systems. I like them.”
Manchester United vs Brighton
Cristiano Ronaldo has been named on the substitutes’ bench for Manchester United’s opening game of the Premier League campaign against Brighton and Hove Albion, the Independent’s Mark Critchley reports.
In his first competitive game in charge of United, Erik ten Hag has decided against starting the 37-year-old despite a lack of options up front.
Ronaldo’s only pre-season appearance came in last week’s 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano, when he left Old Trafford early after being substituted at half time. Ten Hag described his conduct and that of others who left early as “unacceptable”.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was expected to be among the susbtitutes for Sunday’s opener against Brighton until Anthony Martial suffered a hamstring injury earlier this week, ruling him out of contention.
Ten Hag has found no place for Ronaldo, however, instead trusting Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford as well as new signing Christian Eriksen to start.
Manchester United vs Brighton
Erik ten Hag on Cristiano Ronaldo starting the Premier League season on the bench today: “He is working really hard to get to the right fitness levels. That will take time, it is normal. He started pre-season last week.”
When asked how long it will take for Ronaldo to be fit enough to start, Ten Hag adds: “I cannot say, it depends on how quickly he is progressing. He will do everything to get to the fitness levels as soon as possible.”
Manchester United vs Brighton: Ronaldo on the bench
“It was a straightforward call for the manager to make,” suggests Roy Keane on Sky Sports on Erik ten Hag’s decision to leave Ronaldo out of his starting line-up. “As brilliant as Ronaldo is, he’s only had 45 minutes in pre-season. He’s looking at the players he’s got, Brighton at home, and fancies his chances. There are issues behind the scenes but from a football point of view, Ronaldo needs more minutes under his belt before you trust him in a Premier League match.”
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