“`html
manchester City Defeats West ham 3-0, Reaches Premier League Summit
Table of Contents
Erling Haaland‘s brace propels Manchester City to the top of the premier League table, surpassing cristiano Ronaldo’s goal-scoring record in fewer appearances.
Match Summary
Manchester city secured a dominant 3-0 victory over West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, December 20, 2023. The win elevates Pep Guardiola’s side to the top of the premier League standings with 37 points after 17 games. West Ham remains in a precarious position, hovering in the relegation zone.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the 5th minute, capitalizing on a rebound after his initial shot was saved by West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. Tijjani Reijnders extended City’s lead in the 38th minute, finishing a move initiated by Rayan Cherki and assisted by Haaland. Haaland then secured his brace in the 69th minute with a simple tap-in.
Key Statistics
| team | Goals | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | 3 | 37 | 1st |
| West Ham United | 0 | 13 | 18th |
| Arsenal | – | 36 | 2nd (Pending Everton Match) |
Arsenal have the chance to reclaim the top spot later on Saturday with a win against Everton.
Haaland’s Record-breaking Performance
Erling Haaland’s two goals against West Ham United marked a significant milestone in his Premier League career. He surpassed cristiano Ronaldo’s previous record for reaching a certain goal tally, achieving the feat in considerably fewer appearances. While the exact number of goals surpassed isn’t specified in the provided text, this highlights haaland’s exceptional scoring rate.
Post-Match reactions
Pep Guardiola acknowledged the team’s strong performance, stating, “Much advancement in the second half.”
West Ham’s Kyle Walker-Peters commented: “We certainly know how good City are, they are at it at the moment. We knew it would be tough here, we had a gameplan and tried to stick to it but it was tough.”
