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
Haaland’s opening brace steers Man City to dominant win at West Ham
A picture of the future, and an image we’re set to see so many times this season.
That isn’t just Erling Haaland scoring, Manchester City winning and generally looking like they will cruise to another title. It was also the specific manner they sealed this 2-0 win over a tepid West Ham.
That is what should be most alarming for the rest of the Premier League, and Europe.
On 65 minutes, in the middle of one of the few spells of the game when West Ham finally decided to step it up and play with a bit of force and energy, we were shown a new risk that is set to become very familiar.
Kevin De Bruyne picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch and, with space finally appearing behind that defence, the Belgian played a divine through ball for Haaland to run onto and slip in his second of the game.
The straight lines were so clean that they almost emphasised the sterile industrialisation of City’s dominance.
Report by Miguel Delaney at the London Stadium
Erling Haaland’s opening brace steers Manchester City to dominant win at West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Manchester City: The striker got off the mark with two goals on his Premier League debut as Pep Guardiola’s side got their title defence underway
West Ham 0-2 Manchester City
An instant classic of a post-match interview from Erling Haaland, who swears in English, and then swears after realising he’s not allowed to swear on TV. He also thinks he should have scored a hat-trick, which is scary. “A good start,” is his verdict.
West Ham 0-2 Manchester City
Gulp. It’s put to Roy Keane on Sky Sports that the record for fastest to 50 Premier League goals is Andy Cole in 65 games.
Keane points out that Cole didn’t take penalties. “He’s going to smash all the records,” Keane says. “Good luck to the defenders up against him.”
West Ham 0-2 Manchester City
90 mins: Oof. Alvarez unleashes a shot that strikes Zouma in the face.
There will be three minutes of added time and Haaland is confirmed as man of the match, but you knew that anyway.
West Ham 0-2 Manchester City
86 mins: City knock it about for fun as Bernardo gets round the outside, only for Johnson to block the cross.
Riyad Mahrez replaces Foden and Cole Palmer comes on for De Bruyne, while Kalvin Phillips will make his debut for City by replacing Rodri.
Silly depth.
West Ham 0-2 Manchester City
84 mins: This is over as a contest, you could argue it has been for some time.
Rice, to his credit, tacks back to tackle De Bruyne - but Bernardo matches that energy by chasing back on Bowen.
West Ham 0-2 Manchester City
77 mins: There won’t be a debut hat-trick for Haaland. He is coming off to a standing ovation from the away end as Julian Alvarez and Bernardo Silva come on. Gundogan makes way too.
West Ham 0-2 Manchester City
73 mins: Scamacca tests Ederson with a header but was offside from Bowen’s cross. Fornals is then caught offside. West Ham have really struggled today.
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