Manchester City Player Ratings Following 3-1 Victory Over West Ham
Erling Haaland secured his second consecutive hat-trick as Manchester City continued their flawless start to the Premier League season. Pep Guardiola’s squad now sits two points clear at the top of the table, thanks to Haaland’s fifth, sixth, and seventh goals of the campaign. Despite dominating much of the match, City had moments of vulnerability, highlighted by a Ruben Dias own goal that temporarily leveled the score. Haaland’s late strikes ultimately sealed the victory.
The game also saw Jack Grealish making his first start of the season, while Matheus Nunes provided an assist, offering plenty of positives for City. Here’s how the players performed:
Ederson: His proactive play, including a timely header out of the area, showcased his excellent game-reading skills. His distribution was also sharp. Rating: 7
Lewis: Proving to be a vital part of City’s setup, though he missed a golden opportunity when he received a pass from Haaland in the box. Rating: 7
Akanji: Managed well on his side of the pitch, although City’s defense faced challenges from West Ham’s pace. Rating: 6
Dias: Unluckily scored an own goal from Bowen’s cross. His usual precision in passing and heading was slightly off. Rating: 5
Gvardiol: Had a tough time dealing with Bowen, who outpaced him frequently. He’ll be glad to not face West Ham again soon. Rating: 5
Kovacic: Generally solid in midfield, with good anticipation and ball distribution, but occasional lapses left City exposed. Rating: 7
Silva: Delivered an outstanding performance, covering every part of the pitch and consistently being in the right place. Nearly flawless except for not scoring. Rating: 9
De Bruyne: Dominated the first half with his every touch, unsettling West Ham. However, his passing became less accurate in the second half. Rating: 7
Doku: Was a constant threat with his dribbling, making life difficult for West Ham’s defenders. A valuable option on the right wing. Rating: 7
Grealish: Worked well alongside Doku and De Bruyne, creating several scoring chances that could have been converted. Rating: 7
Haaland: Scored two crucial goals to give City the lead twice, and later completed his hat-trick. Was less involved in the second half but finished strong. Rating: 9
Substitutes:
- Gundogan (for Doku, 68): Brought stability to the midfield. Rating: 6
- Nunes (for Grealish, 72): Displayed great vision with his assist. Rating: 7
- Walker (for Gvardiol, 88): No time to impact.
- Ake (for De Bruyne, 88): No time to impact.
Not used: Ortega, Stones, Rodri, O’Reilly, McAtee.
