Erling Haaland continues to demonstrate his prowess as he led Manchester City to a 4-1 victory against West Ham, marking a resurgence for the team after a challenging streak under manager Pep Guardiola. Haaland found the back of the net twice, contributing to City’s first consecutive wins in the Premier League since late October. This win comes on the heels of a tumultuous period where City managed only one victory in nine league matches, causing them to fall out of contention for Champions League qualification and sparking doubts about Guardiola’s future plans.
With the latest victory, City has reignited hopes for a stronger season, particularly as they have closed the gap on Arsenal and Chelsea, who both stumbled in their matches against Brighton and Crystal Palace, respectively. Despite the positive result, Guardiola remained cautious, stating, “I’m very pleased for the result, but you cannot ask me if the old City is back. If you saw the game, we are not.” Although the previous win against Leicester was lackluster, the performance against West Ham showed improvement in City’s attacking play, with Haaland demonstrating his form.
In that match, Haaland scored his first goal by heading in a cross from Savinho, then followed up with a deft finish over the goalkeeper shortly after. City’s scoring was rounded out by an own-goal and a strike from Phil Foden, while Niclas Fullkrug managed a consolation goal for West Ham. Guardiola noted the team still has room for improvement but acknowledged that the win provides a much-needed release amid their struggles.
Meanwhile, it was a favorable day for Liverpool, who sat atop the league without even playing. Arsenal missed an opportunity to narrow the gap with Liverpool, settling for a 1-1 draw against Brighton. Joao Pedro equalized for Brighton from the penalty spot, while Ethan Nwaneri, at just 17, scored for Arsenal and became one of the youngest players to net multiple league goals. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed frustration over the controversial penalty decision that led to Brighton’s equalizer.
Chelsea, on the other hand, continued their winless run, extending it to four matches after drawing 1-1 against Crystal Palace. Their struggles to find the net have dampened a previously promising title challenge, with winger Jadon Sancho reflecting on the team’s need to convert opportunities into goals. As it stands, Liverpool holds a five-point lead over Arsenal and a nine-point advantage over Chelsea, with two games in hand, including a significant match against Manchester United on Sunday.
In a separate match, Alexander Isak of Newcastle notched his seventh consecutive Premier League goal, leading his team to a 2-1 triumph over an injury-depleted Tottenham. Isak’s 38th-minute goal came after a deflected cross, marking his 13th goal of the season. Newcastle’s victory continues their winning streak, while Tottenham struggles to gain momentum in the league.
Southampton’s situation remains dire after suffering a 5-0 defeat to Brentford, marking their third consecutive loss under new manager Ivan Juric. Despite the change in leadership, the club has only managed a single point from four games and remains at the bottom of the league. Bryan Mbeumo scored two goals for Brentford, who secured their largest ever Premier League win.
In other matchups, Aston Villa defeated Leicester 2-1, and Bournemouth achieved a 1-0 win against Everton, extending their unbeaten run to eight matches, setting a club record in the Premier League.
