The moments you might have missed as Manchester City put four goals past West Ham in the Premier League.
Manchester City recorded their joint-biggest win of the season and back-to-back successes for the first time since October as they eased past West Ham.
Erling Haaland scored a brace and Savinho notched three assists in a one-sided victory that begins 2025 in much better fashion than 2024 ended. City looked a little more like themselves, and created some lovely attacking moves on their way to a big win that their defiant players will tell you has been coming.
Savinho’s cross was diverted in by Vladimir Coufal early on, before Savinho beat Coufal on the right before crossing for Haaland to head in. The Brazilian slipped Haaland in for a third assist in the second half, before Phil Foden converted one-on-one shortly after.
These are the moments you might have missed from City’s clash with West Ham:
Haaland’s reaction tells full story
Haaland had barely landed back on the ground after rising to meet Savinho’s cross to head in his 20th goal of the season, before he started to celebrate. He was never going to miss the header for the cross was so inviting.
A puff of the cheeks, a look back at Savinho in disbelief, and a point to the Brazilian to tell the crowd where the credit for the goal should come from. Haaland raced to the winger, and the pair celebrated together. Savinho had celebrated City’s opener wildly like his own, with the second assist more deserving of a knee slide.
Not only had the Brazilian whipped in one of the crosses of the season, he had collected Foden’s crossfield pass with a lovely first touch, turned Vladimir Coufal inside out and then knocked it past him. After his earlier cross was deflected in by Coufal, the Czech was probably sick of the sight of Savinho by half-time.
This was the Brazilian’s eighth assist of the season, soon to be nine, with five coming for Haaland. (In contrast, Jeremy Doku still has no assists for Haaland in 18 months.) In the last three games alone, Savinho has four assists, a goal, and also won a penalty that Haaland missed – he’s been the main man in City’s mini-revival.
Captain Haaland
As the City players waited for captain Kevin De Bruyne to complete his pre-match formalities with the officials and take the sponsors’ photos, there were the obligatory motivational shouts from players – designed to get themselves up for the game individually as much as sending a message to the team.
That final word was left for De Bruyne, however there was more than one reminder from an unlikely source: Haaland. The striker isn’t considered a leader in the dressing room as such, and any leading he does is by example. Here, though, he was the loudest voice as the starting XI waited for De Bruyne.
Similarly at the break, Haaland offered words of encouragement as City came out of the tunnel, having earlier directed praise to Savinho for his role in the second goal.
Rodri boost
Ruben Dias and Rodri are both still on the sidelines for City, however they were pitchside for the warm-ups against West Ham deep in conversation. Rodri spoke this week of hoping to be back towards the end of the season, aiming for the June Nations League fixtures before the Club World Cup. He was walking freely, without support, which adds to his positivity recently.
Dias is improving ahead of a return later this month and has been in the news this week over his love life, so he probably welcomed the distraction of a game of football to watch. As the City team made their way back into the dressing room, Rodri had some words for Haaland, while Dias went in with Foden.
They may not be able to help on the pitch, but the two leaders made sure to be present for their teammates as much as they could.
Carson watch
With Ederson still out, City were briefly worried when Stefan Ortega went down heavily after claiming a cross under pressure with 15 minutes left. Ortega stayed down and received treatment, prompting the TV directors to cut quickly to substitute goalkeeper Scott Carson on the bench.
Carson remains wrapped up warm as he does most matches, and Ortega continued, although it felt like that risk might not have been taken had it been Ederson on the bench.
City fans are always desperate to see more of the popular Carson, but were left disappointed on Saturday. They did get to sing his name as the veteran did later go to warm up to huge cheers and ‘There’s only one Scott Carson.’
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