Manchester City sent a clear title message to the rest of the league after a dominant 3-0 win over West Ham United, climbing to the summit of the Premier League ahead of Arsenal’s evening kick-off. The result extended City’s remarkable unbeaten head-to-head league run against the Hammers to 20 matches, underlining their authority at the top.
Fast Start Sets the Tone
Fresh from sealing a place in the EFL Cup semi-finals, City carried their confidence into their final fixture before Christmas. It took just minutes for that belief to pay off. In-form Phil Foden unlocked the West Ham defence with a precise pass to Erling Haaland. Although Alphonse Areola initially denied the Norwegian, Haaland reacted quickest to fire home the rebound and give City an early lead.
The goal sparked the champions’ total control. City dominated possession, pressed aggressively, and pinned West Ham deep in their own half, leaving the visitors struggling to cope with the tempo.
Relentless Pressure Pays Off
City should have doubled its advantage earlier when Haaland mistimed a header, but the second goal soon arrived. After seeing one effort saved, Tijjani Reijnders made amends moments later, lifting a composed finish into the net following a slick City move. It was a fitting reward for a first half that felt like an attack versus a defence.
By the interval, frustration was apparent among the travelling West Ham supporters, while City looked comfortably in control at the Etihad.
Haaland Seals It After the Break
West Ham briefly threatened a response early in the second half when Jarrod Bowen dragged a counter-attacking chance wide, but that moment proved false hope. City quickly regained its grip, slowing the game and waiting patiently for another opening.
That chance came in the 69th minute. A loose ball inside the box fell kindly for Haaland, who made no mistake, sweeping home his second of the night and his 19th Premier League goal of the season. The strike ended the contest.
Although Crysencio Summerville later forced a save from Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Nuno Espírito Santo rang the changes, the outcome was never in doubt. Haaland even came close to completing his hat-trick in stoppage time.
What the Result Means
The win extended City’s incredible unbeaten run against teams starting the day in the relegation zone to 47 matches, highlighting their consistency against lower-ranked opposition. For West Ham, the defeat leaves them in the drop zone for Christmas for the fifth time, though history offers hope, having survived relegation on the last two such occasions.
For Tanzanian football fans closely following the Premier League, this performance once again shows why Manchester City remain favourites in the title race, with Haaland continuing to set the benchmark for elite goal scorers in world football.
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