Manchester City 3, West Ham 0
Erling Haaland scored a record 35th Premier League goal as Manchester City beat a stubborn West Ham side to return to the top of the Premier League.
Haaland scored City’s second after Nathan Ake had opened the scoring while Phil Foden made the win safe with a deflected goal 5 minutes from the end – the 1000th goal under Pep Guardiola.
But it was Haaland’s goal which was properly celebrated at the end with a guard of honour by City players and staff.
City were without Kevin De Bruyne and Pep Guardiola also chose Stefan Ortega as goalkeeper.
The deadlock was broken with a free kick after 50 minutes after Jack Grealish had been fouled by Flynn Downes.
Riyad Mahrez stepped up and curled his free kick towards the edge of the area where Nathan Ake rose unopposed and headed City into the lead.
It was everything that City deserved after hitting the woodwork twice through Jack Grealish and Rodri and later having penalty claims turned down against the highly organised Hammers.
City took total control after 70 minutes when Grealish released Erling Haaland to score his 51st goal of the season in all competitions – behind only Dixie Dean – with a delicate chip over Lukasz Fabianski.
And the Polish goalkeeper was wrong footed when Phil Foden’s shot deflected off Emerson Palmieri to beat him after Mahrez’ corner was not properly cleared with 5 minutes to go.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 3, West Ham 0
Stefan Ortega: 6. Showed some good footwork. Saved from Jarrod Bowen went he broke away down the right.
Kyle Walker: 6. Got some early coaching from Pep Guardiola. Solid in defence.
John Stones: 7. Pushed into midfield to help with the build up but found it jammed with players. Headed wide from a corner.
Ruben Dias: 7. Tough challenge up against Jarrod Bowen.
Nathan Ake: 8. Aerially solid early on and headed the opening goal after 50 minutes after getting on the end of a Riyad Mahrez free kick.
Rodri: 8. Followed by Pablo Fornals who tried to cut off passing lanes around him. Hit the post with a great effort after a 1-2 with Erling Haaland as City tried different things to move West Ham around. Plenty of defensive work too.
Riyad Mahrez: 8. Forced a fine save from Lucas Fabianski and provided the assist for the opening goal with a superb teasing free kick into the area.
Julian Alvarez: 7. Extremely hard working in advanced midfield positions. Couple of shots easily saved but some risky moves didn’t pay off.
Bernardo Silva: 7. Brought his best pressing game to help out in midfield and threatened occasionally going forward.
Jack Grealish: 7. Little time on the ball, drove a shot into post and out after cutting in from the left. Run into dangerous position created the free kick for the first goal. Set up Erling Haaland with a great through ball for the second goal.
Erling Haaland: 8. Did his defensive work but had few chances because of organised defending from West Ham. But he got one chance in the second half after 70 minutes and buried it with a delicate chip to bring up his 51st goal – breaking Alan Sharer and Andy Cole’s all time Premier League scoring record.
Manuel Akanji (on for Nathan Ake, 77): No time to mark
Phil Foden (on for Julian Alvarez, 77): No time to mark but scored ripping third
Kalvin Phillips (on for Rodri, 90+1): No time to mark
GOALS – Manchester City 3, West Ham 0
Man City 1, West Ham 0: 50. Nathan Ake headed home Riyad Mahrez’ free kick from 6 yards out after Jack Grealish had been fouled 25 yards out by Flynn Downes
Man City 2, West Ham 0: 70. Erling Haaland was at hand to score a delicate chip over the head of Lukasz Fabianski after Jack Grealish slid him clean through – a record 35th Premier League goal of the season.
Man City 3, West Ham 0: 85. Phil Foden’s volley deflected off Emerson Palmieri to beat Lukasz Fabianski after West Ham failed to properly clear Riyad Mahrez’ corner.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 3, West Ham 0
Man City: Ortega, Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake (Akanji 77), Rodri, Mahrez, Alvarez (Foden 77), Bernardo Silva, Grealish, Haaland
Man City Subs not used: Ederson, Phillips, Gundogan, Laporte, Gomez, Perrone, Lewis
Goals: Ake 50; Haaland 70; Foden 85
West Ham: Fabianski, Coufal (Johnson 61), Kehrer, Ogbonna, Emerson, Cresswell, Bowen (Benrahma 79), Downes, Lucas Paqueta, Fornals, Antonio (Ings 67)
West Ham Subs not used: Areola, Anang, Lanzini, Cornet
Booked: Downes 49 (foul on Jack Grealish)