Erling Haaland Scores Twice as Man City Triumph to Climb Top.
Erling Haaland added to his total league goals of the season.
Key Points
Manchester City take first place in the Premier League with a win.
Erling Haaland brings his total to 19 league goals this campaign.
The Dutch midfielder scores another for City before half-time.
The Norwegian goal machine bagged a double to fire the reigning champions defeat beleaguered West Ham United for a fifth straight Premier League win.
The win propelled them to the league's summit, a single point ahead of their title rivals, who can reclaim top spot in their evening fixture.
The visiting team, managed by Nuno, needed a strong opening however conceded early within the opening five when Haaland converted at the second time of asking.
The Hammers was breached with ease and Haaland somehow sent a free header wide soon after his opening goal.
Tijjani Reijnders doubled the lead shortly before the break, collecting Haaland's pass before driving forward and hammering a finish into the top corner.
After the interval, West Ham tried to claw something back but their forward hit the side netting and dragged another shot wide.
The striker's brace sealed a miserable Christmas for the visitors, who are stuck inside the relegation zone.
City's Performance: Haaland and Team-Mates Looking Imperious
This was City's seventh straight win in all competitions and the team are starting to put together the sort of streak that often leads to trophies.
The Norwegian's opener and second-half finish extended an astonishing campaign where he has scored 19 in the Premier League.
Once Reijnders slammed in the second, the end result seemed certain as City stretched their remarkable unbeaten run against sides in the relegation zone.
The goalkeeper denied Phil Foden and Savinho late on, but City's comfortable win means they have not lost against West Ham in two decades of league meetings.
Hammers' Troubles: A Miserable Christmas
For the West Ham fans, all optimism of a shock triumph was extinguished within five minutes of kick-off.
The team have not enjoyed a new managerial bounce, with only two victories and now winless in their past six league games.
This leaves them in 18th place, three points from safety, with the deficit could grow as rivals have games in hand.
Aside from a couple of opportunities for Jarrod Bowen and a well-struck free-kick, they offered little threat for the opposition goalkeeper.
In the past, West Ham have survived relegation when not bottom at Christmas, offering a faint hope for this season.
Upcoming Fixtures
Pep Guardiola's men: The side enjoy a week off before returning to action with a trip to Nottingham Forest.
Nuno's team: They welcome Fulham at their home ground on the same day.
