Haaland sets new record as City return to Premier League summit

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 Haaland that ended with the Spaniard’s placed shot beating the keeper but striking the inside of the left post, rolling across goal and eventually out of play.

City continued to probe and work hard, but the Hammers went into the break having successfully 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  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, causing one or two nervy moments in the process.

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 ‘s perfectly-timed run and the Norwegian drew Fabianski off his line before chipping the ball over the Hammers keeper and into the net.

It was his 51st goal of an incredible season and set a new all-time Premier League record with his 35th league strike 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 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 of Guardiola‘s Manchester City reign - and what a reign it has been so far.

Superb Ake so important 

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.

Haaland imperious

What Erling Haaland is doing in a Manchester City shirt defies belief.

51 goals - 35 in the Premier League which is a new record - the statistics are mind-boggling.

He plays with a smile, enjoys every moment and is clearly loved by his team-mates who gave him a guard of honour as he left the pitch.

He is a goal machine and  is already one of the best strikers - if not the best - in the world.

These are very special times and it is a privilege to watch him create history (almost on a weekly basis!).

Star Man: AKE

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

“This type of game is so tough, really difficult. West Ham showed how good they are.

“With Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek, West Ham are a stronger team. In the first half we made some stupid fouls but the second half we scored. We adjusted something and played better.”

“Erling is incredible. He’s just 22 - and still has five games left. How many games I made the substitution after a hat-trick in 60 minutes, maybe he’d have scored more. But maybe he’d have got injured. He’s special. Congratulations to him.

“We expected him to score goals but to break Cole and Shearer record’s... I’m pretty sure what he wants is to win the Premier League. We have one game in hand but still just one point in front. We have to keep going and recover well.

“Of course Kevin De Bruyne is so important but the team has to move on. Hopefully he can come back soon. Hopefully our people come back here against Leeds on Saturday and make our environment hard and three more points.”

WATCH: Inside City 429: Crucial victories, high-scoring games and a trophy lift!

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

• Erling Haaland has scored 35 Premier League goals in 31 appearances this season for Manchester City – he has now broken the record for goals in a Premier League season; passing the milestones set by Andrew Cole in 1993-94 and Alan Shearer in 1994-95.
• City are unbeaten in 15 Premier League games against West Ham (W12 D3) since a 2-1 home defeat in September 2015.
• West Ham have taken just four points from their 17 Premier League games against Man City at the Etihad Stadium (W1 D1 L15), conceding at least once in every visit to the ground.
• Since losing 2-1 to Leicester in December 2018, City have won each of their last 25 Premier League games on a Wednesday – the longest winning run by a side on a specific day in the competition’s history.
• City have scored at least once in each of their last 31 Premier League home games (103 goals in total) since a 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace in October 2021. The Blues have won their last eight at the Etihad, scoring at least twice each time.
• City have won 11 of our last 12 Premier League matches (D1), although we have conceded in nine of those games.
• City’s Erling Haaland has scored 22 home goals in the Premier League this season, equalling Thierry Henry who scored the same amount in 2003-04 (22 at Highbury).
• City have now scored 1000 goals under Pep Guardiola in just 404 matches.