Man City 4-1 West Ham: Erling Haaland shines with double as Savinho leads Man City to consecutive victories under Pep Guardiola

Erling Haaland's brace helped Manchester City secure a 4-1 victory over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium, with Savinho putting in a stellar performance to inspire the team to success.

Vladimir Coufal's own goal set City on their way before Erling Haaland scored either side of half-time, with all three goals created by Savinho. Phil Foden scored the fourth as Pep Guardiola's side built on their win over Leicester to make it back-to-back victories.

Niclas Fullkrug pulled one back for West Ham and even then the scoreline flattered City but the result still heaps pressure on manager Julen Lopetegui. His side were heavily beaten 5-0 by Liverpool in their final game of 2024 and shipped another four here.

City's first-half performance was far from convincing, West Ham having the better openings. But while Mohammed Kudus was wasteful, Savinho was superb in the final third.

It was his left-wing cross that deflected off Coufal and beyond Alphonse Areola for the first before he turned the Czech full-back inside out for the second. His tempting cross eluded Areola and Haaland was there to nod into the net to make it two.

In the second half, it was Savinho's threaded pass in behind the Irons defence that allowed Haaland to score his second of the game, lofting the ball over the goalkeeper for his ninth goal against West Ham - his favourite Premier League opponents.

Lopetegui's priority at that stage would surely have been to avoid a similar capitulation to the one against Liverpool but West Ham contrived to give the ball away in the build-up to the next goal, Kevin De Bruyne feeding Foden to make it four inside an hour.

City still have problems, underlined by Fullkrug's goal. Manuel Akanji had been particularly fortunate that the referee ruled Crysencio Summerville had robbed him unfairly, denying the winger the chance to run through when there was only one goal in.

Guardiola is still searching for something, hence naming an unchanged side for the first time since August in the hope of finding it. Back-to-back wins brings some momentum but they remain sixth in the Premier League table. West Ham stay 13th for now.

Player of the match: Savinho

Man City have had to be patient with Savinho since his arrival in the summer, waiting until the final game of 2024 for him to score his first goal for the club, but supporters - and opponents - are now seeing what makes the young Brazilian winger so special.

Guardiola had suggested that Savinho favours the right wing and deployed him there regularly early in the season but it was on the left that he did his best work for Girona. Occupying that space against West Ham, he was the outstanding player on the pitch.

It was Savinho who provided the spark that was needed during an awkward opening for his confidence-hit team, causing Coufal all manner of problems for the opening two goals. His assist for the third showed that he can pick out a pass as well as a cross.

There are still issues for Guardiola to address at this club, the need to construct a new team now obvious. But Savinho, 20, has certainly not been responsible for the dramatic dip this season. He looks a clear candidate to be part of City's next great side.

Story of the match in stats...

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