Erling Haaland good in debut, Ilkay Gundogan dazzles as Man Metropolis open season with dominant win at West Ham

By Staff Last updated Aug 7, 2022

LONDON — Welcome to the Premier League, Erling Haaland! The massive summer season arrival from Borussia Dortmund scored each objectives — together with a penalty — to provide Man Metropolis a 2-0 win over West Ham within the defending champions’ season opener.

– Report: West Ham 0-2 Man Metropolis | Premier League desk | Upcoming fixtures

ESPN’s Mark Ogden has the response from a cushty win for Pep Guardiola’s facet in London.

Fast Response

Haaland makes dream begin in Premier League debut

Erling Haaland has enormous strain on his shoulders at Manchester Metropolis this season, that means he needed to make a huge impact as shortly as potential following his £51 million switch from Borussia Dortmund. Ultimately, scoring twice on his Premier League debut wasn’t a foul approach to introduce himself.

Whereas Haaland’s payment is prone to be considered a discount within the trendy sport, the 22-year-old nonetheless has to show he’s nearly as good as his status suggests, and that’s the place the strain will largely come from. And after failing to attain — whereas lacking some simple possibilities — within the Neighborhood Defend defeat towards Liverpool final week, a failure to attain towards West Ham would have solely intensified the expectation. However Haaland scored each objectives as Metropolis made a profitable begin to the defence of their title and their star signing confirmed that he will likely be an enormous asset to Pep Guardiola’s crew.

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His first was from the penalty spot after his intelligent run behind the Hammers’ defence was picked out by Ilkay Gundogan. After displaying spectacular tempo to beat Hammers substitute goalkeeper Alphonse Areola to the ball and earn the penalty, Haaland despatched him the improper manner from the spot with a exact penalty that nestled within the nook of the web. In the meantime, his second was a traditional striker’s purpose, one which underlined his tempo, motion and nerveless capability to beat a keeper in a one-on-one scenario. Racing on to Kevin De Bruyne‘s defence-splitting go, Haaland was in a position to open his physique up and beat Areola with a left-footed shot into the far nook that sealed Metropolis’s win.

Haaland was signed to make the distinction within the large video games for Metropolis and rating at will within the others. It is honest to say he’s already residing as much as the job description.

An ominous signal for remainder of Premier League

Manchester Metropolis misplaced their opening sport of final season with a 1-0 defeat in London at Tottenham, however 12 months on, they returned to the capital and began with a flawless win at West Ham that may have already got their rivals worrying about the right way to maintain tempo with Pep Guardiola’s crew.

Final season’s false begin did not make a distinction to the end result of the title race, with Metropolis ending forward of Liverpool on the ultimate day, however Guardiola’s crew have been sluggish out of the blocks, profitable simply 4 of their first seven video games. If their slick efficiency towards West Ham is a gauge of what’s to come back, nonetheless, the chasing pack must dash simply to maintain up.

There was actually no rust within the win on the London Stadium. Erling Haaland’s two objectives obtained the brand new signing off the mark, and he has added larger efficiency to a crew that already scored loads. Kevin De Bruyne was excellent and Ruben Dias was imposing on the again. When it comes to dominating the sport, there have been instances when Metropolis had greater than 75% of possession, and this was towards a West Ham crew that just about clinched a top-six end final season. It was no simple begin for Metropolis, however they made it look easy.

If they’ll blow West Ham away with such ease, nearly all of the Premier League do not stand an opportunity.

West Ham will fear about Rice till deadline day

West Ham have spent over £100 million on new signings up to now this summer season, however their most vital piece of enterprise has been maintaining Declan Rice — for now, at the least.

The 23-year-old, named membership captain following Mark Noble’s retirement, had an impressive season for the Hammers as they reached the Europa League semifinals final time period, and he was as soon as once more the important thing man for David Moyes’ crew towards Metropolis. Rice is the definition of an all-action midfielder, and regardless of the searing warmth on the opening weekend, he was nonetheless working tirelessly from box-to-box, profitable tackles and making essential interceptions.

However though he stays a West Ham participant, there may be nonetheless time for a much bigger, wealthier membership to make a transfer for the England worldwide this month, and there are two specifically — Chelsea and Manchester United — who’ve been long-term admirers of Rice and who each nonetheless want midfield reinforcements. With two years left to run on his contract, West Ham could have to dump Rice subsequent summer season if he fails to agree a brand new deal, but when a giant provide is available in earlier than the Aug. 31 switch deadline, it could possibly be tempting for each West Ham and Rice to make the transfer occur. On the proof of his efficiency towards Metropolis, Rice would immediately enhance United or Chelsea.

Participant scores

West Ham: Lukasz Fabianski 6; Vladimir Coufal 6, Ben Johnson 6, Kurt Zouma 6, Aaron Cresswell 5; Declan Rice 8, Tomas Soucek 7; Jarrod Bowen 7, Manuel Lanzini 5, Pablo Fornals 5; Michail Antonio 5.
Subs: Alphonse Areola 5, Mentioned Benrahma 6, Gianluca Scamacca 5, Flynn Downes 5, Conor Coventry 5.

Man Metropolis: Ederson 7; Kyle Walker 7, Ruben Dias 7, Nathan Ake 7, Joao Cancelo 7; Ilkay Gundogan 9, Rodri 7, Kevin de Bruyne 8; Phil Foden 7, Erling Haaland 8, Jack Grealish 7.
Subs: Bernardo Silva 6, Julian Alvarez 6, Riyad Mahrez 6

Finest and worst performers

BEST: Ilkay Gundogan, Man Metropolis

Guardiola’s crew of all-stars is at all times higher when Ilkay Gundogan is within the facet, and the Germany midfielder ran the sport for Guardiola on the London Stadium. His go for Haaland within the first half led to a penalty from which Metropolis took the lead, and though it was a intelligent run by Haaland, solely a participant as clever as Gundogan may produce a go to make the run repay.

WORST: Alphonse Areola, West Ham

It is by no means a simple activity for a substitute goalkeeper to enter the sport chilly from the bench, so West Ham keeper Areola can at the least level to his lack of preparation for his below-par efficiency. However the former Paris Saint-Germain keeper, who changed the injured Lukasz Fabianski on 29 minutes, gifted Metropolis the opening purpose simply seven minutes after happening when he raced off his line and fouled Haaland with a reckless dive that resulted in a penalty.

He was additionally crushed too simply by Haaland for Metropolis’s second, marking a day to neglect for the Hammers No. 2.

Highlights and notable moments

Haaland clearly takes the headlines for an nearly flawless Premier League debut.

Sending the followers wild 🤩#WHUMCI | @ErlingHaaland pic.twitter.com/Ek2jTifsYe

— Premier League (@premierleague) August 7, 2022

In the meantime, take it from one legendary goalscorer about one other: If anybody is aware of what it takes to be an elite ahead, it might be the previous England and Tottenham star himself …

He is unstoppable is @ErlingHaaland. A correct striker whose purpose scoring numbers will likely be enormous. A very prodigious expertise.

— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) August 7, 2022

After the match: What the managers, gamers mentioned

“There have been some good celebrations, so I am joyful. Good that [my father, Alfie Haaland] noticed each objectives as it’s a large second for me as a debutant on this competitors. Additionally, it has been nearly half-hour since I scored the final purpose, so I’ve to maintain going.” — Man Metropolis ahead Erling Haaland

Key stats (supplied by ESPN Stats & Info)

Erling Haaland scored in his Premier League debut; that is the third straight season that he is scored in his crew’s league opener (scored braces within the final two season openers with Dortmund). He is additionally the second Manchester Metropolis participant to attain a brace on his Premier League debut, following Sergio Aguero in August 2011.
Manchester Metropolis prolonged their club-record street PL unbeaten streak to 19 video games (15-0-4); their final such loss was at Tottenham (August 2021).
Manchester Metropolis prolonged their Premier League unbeaten streak vs. West Ham to 14 video games (11-0-3), tied for his or her longest such energetic streak vs. a single opponent (14, vs. Fulham).
Manchester Metropolis have received six of their seven opening PL video games beneath Pep Guardiola. In the meantime, West Ham have accomplished the other, dropping six of their final seven.
Manchester Metropolis has received all 4 top-flight conferences vs. West Ham within the opening sport of the season (13-0 on combination).

Up subsequent

West Ham: There’s little relaxation for the Hammers within the early going, as they’ve three video games within the subsequent two weeks. They journey to newly promoted Nottingham Forest within the Premier League (Aug. 14) earlier than going through the primary leg of their UEFA Europa Convention League playoff opponent at residence (Aug. 18) after which internet hosting Brighton (Aug. 21) within the Premier League. (Their Europa opponent? Both Viborg of Denmark or Faroe Islands champions B36 Torshavn, although the latter path 3-0 on combination of their two-legged collection.)

Man Metropolis: The street forward appears to be like pretty manageable for Guardiola & Co. as they face Bournemouth of their residence opener Saturday earlier than going to Newcastle on Aug. 21.