City Crush West Ham in New Year Masterclass

Manchester City crushed West Ham 4-1 at the Etihad, with Erling Haaland and Savinho stealing the show!

January 4, 2025
6:16 pm

Manchester City kicked off 2025 with a bang, cruising past West Ham United 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium. This marked back-to-back Premier League wins for Pep Guardiola’s squad for the first time since October, leaving the Hammers reeling after another heavy defeat.

The action started early when Savinho, one of City’s shining stars this season, broke the deadlock in the 10th minute. The young Brazilian’s shot took a wicked deflection off Vladimír Coufal, leaving Alphonse Areola wrong-footed as the ball sailed into the net. It was a tough start for West Ham, who were eager to tighten up their defense after conceding a league-high 79 goals in 2024.

Despite the early setback, West Ham showed some promise on the counter. Lucas Paquetá and Jarrod Bowen linked up nicely in midfield, creating a couple of half-chances. But when it came to finishing, the Hammers just couldn’t get it done. Their missed opportunities proved costly as City’s ruthless efficiency shone through.

Erling Haaland, continuing his dominance against West Ham, struck just before halftime. Rising high at the far post, the Norwegian forward powered home a perfectly weighted cross from Savinho to double City’s lead. That was his eighth goal in just six appearances against the Hammers, and he wasn’t finished yet.

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The second half kicked off with City firmly in control, and within minutes, Haaland struck again. Savinho, at the heart of everything good for City, slipped a clever through ball into Haaland’s path. The striker calmly chipped Areola for his ninth goal against West Ham, pretty much sealing the deal.

Phil Foden added to the visitors’ misery in the 58th minute after taking advantage of a defensive slip. He intercepted a misplaced pass, drove into the box, and coolly slotted the ball through Areola’s legs. It was his first Premier League goal at the Etihad this season, reigniting his attacking spark.

West Ham did manage a late consolation in the 70th minute when Niclas Füllkrug bundled the ball into the net after a scramble in the box. The German striker, a rare bright spot for the Hammers, gave the traveling fans something to cheer about. But the goal did little to hide the gap in class between the two teams.

The defeat puts more pressure on Julen Lopetegui, whose side now sits 13th in the table. With only one win in their last six matches and a defense leaking goals at an alarming rate, the Hammers are sliding into trouble. City, on the other hand, remain in sixth but look revitalized as they chase a return to the title race.

This was City’s ninth consecutive home league win against West Ham, highlighting their dominance in this matchup. Pep Guardiola will be thrilled with his team’s performance, especially with Savinho emerging as a key creative force.