Man City 3-0 West Ham – Player ratings as Erling Haaland sends City back to the top with record breaking strike
Man City moved back above Arsenal to the top of the Premier League with a hard fought win over West Ham at the Etihad.
Despite illness tearing through the camp, West Ham stood tall in the first half at the Etihad, keeping their defensive shape and allowing Pep Guardiola’s side very few chances. Just five minutes into the second half however, Nathan Ake got in behind Angelo Ogbonna to head home his first league goal of the season to finally breach the Hammers’ defences.
David Moyes’ men worked their way back into the game, but just as things were looking up, Erling Haaland broke through and finished past Fabianski in the West Ham goal with a sublime chip to guarantee his side all three points and become the highest ever goalscorer in a Premier League season. Phil Foden added a third with a deflected strike with just five minutes remaining.
Here is how the players rated at the Etihad:
Man City
Stefan Ortega – 7 – Didn’t have much to do, but made a good save to deny Jarrod Bowen in the first half. Very good distribution.
Kyle Walker – 6 – Battled well with Michail Antonio whenever the forward tried to break.
Ruben Dias – 7 – Started the first half by playing quick balls into the strikers and upping City’s tempo. Didn’t have much defensive work to do, but never gives the ball away.
Nathan Ake – 7 – Settled City’s nerves just five minutes into the second half with his first Premier League goal of the season. Pep will be glad to have him back.
John Stones – 8 – Excelling in his new hybrid role in this City team, a vital cog in Pep Guardiola’s side that does every part of the game well.
Rodri – 8- Everything went through him in the first half. Unlucky not to score after seeing his shot smash the inside of the post and come out.
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Riyad Mahrez – 7 – Struggled to get into the game during the first half, with the majority of the play going down City’s left, but played a delightful ball for Nathan Ake to head home early in the second.
Julian Alvarez – 6 – Did his defensive work well chasing back when needed, but didn’t quite click for him in an attacking sense.
Bernardo Silva – 8 – Must have covered the entire pitch, never stops running and links play so, so well.
Jack Grealish – 8 – Fantastic ball for Haaland’s record breaking goal, constant threat down the left-hand side and had the majority of the ball in the opening 45-minutes. Has been a different player since coming back from the World Cup.
Erling Haaland – 8 – A sublime chipped finish to become the highest ever goalscorer in a Premier League season after being put through by Jack Grealish. 35 goals in 31 Premier League games is an insane output, but even more incredible when you remember this is his debut season in England. The guard of honour at the end of the game tells you everything you need to know.
Erling Haaland has scored more goals in his debut Premier League season than any player has ever managed in a single campaign in the competition's history. 🤖 pic.twitter.com/Zb5fjVQgL5
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 3, 2023
Substitutes:
Manuel Akanji (for Ake , 77′) – N/A – Came on late.
Phil Foden (for Alvarez , 77′) – N/A – Came on late, but marked his evening with a goal.
Kalvin Phillips (for Rodri , 91′) – N/A – Came on in stoppage time.
West Ham
Lukasz Fabianski – 7 – Made some good saves to keep the score down, had no chance with any of the three goals.
Thilo Kehrer – 7.5 – Some key tackles and interceptions in his own box to stop Haaland and co.
Angelo Ogbonna – 6 – Was a ball magnet in the first half, clearing everything that came his way. Missed the flight of the ball to allow Nathan Ake to head home just five minutes into the second period, breaking West Ham’s defensive line and cost his side.
Angelo Ogbonna made more clearances (7) than he completed passes (5) in the first half against Man City.
He understood the assignment. ⛔️#MCIWHU pic.twitter.com/3szjNngbxQ
— Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) May 3, 2023
Aaron Cresswell – 7 – Kept Riyad Mahrez quite for the majority of the game and made a crucial block to stop Alvarez squaring the ball to Haaland after just 15 minutes.
Vladimir Coufal – 6 – Couldn’t get near Jack Grealish, who had him twisting and turning all evening.
Flynn Downes – 6 – Had an incredibly tough job replacing Decan Rice and struggled against a slick City attack. Booked.
Lucas Paqueta – 7.5 – West Ham’s best midfielder, won duels, made tackles and looked to get the Hammers moving up the pitch.
Emerson – 6 – Formed a nice partnership with Aaron Cresswell down West Ham’s left, should have done better blocking Phil Foden’s strike.
Pablo Fornals- 5 – The game passed him by.
Jarrod Bowen – 6 – Had West Ham’s only real chance of the first half, largely ineffective.
Michail Antonio – 6 – Battled well up top, looking to run at the City defense every chance he got. Surprised he was taken off when he was.
Substitutes:
Ben Johnson (for Coufal, 62′) – 5 – Tough job to come on against this City attack.
Danny Ings (for Antonio, 67′) – 5 – Gave the ball away in the build up to City’s second goal just minutes after coming on.
Said Benrahma (for Bowen, 79′) – N/A – Came on late.
