Hattrick Haaland delivers again for Man City
MANCHESTER: Erling Haaland scored a hattrick for the second straight game as Manchester City thrashed Nottingham Forest 60 in the Premier League yesterday.
Yet the champion is still trailing Arsenal at the top of the table after the Gunners beat Aston Villa 21 to maintain their 100% start to the new season.
All Haaland’s goals came in the first half at Etihad Stadium, before Joao Cancelo scored a fourth and Julian Alvarez added two more, his first goals for City since his offseason arrival from Argentine side River Plate, in the second half.
It was the champion’s fourth win in five games of its title defence but it is still two points behind
Arsenal, which has won five from five.
Haaland’s three goals against Crystal Palace on
Sunday came in a 19minute burst in the second half and he did all his damage against Forest in the space of 26 minutes before halftime, taking his record to a leagueleading nine goals.
‘‘When City bought Erling, everybody talked about what he has done in the past. What we wanted to do is help him. Hopefully, he can enjoy and score more goals,’’ City manager Pep Guardiola said.
At the Emirates Stadium, Gabriel Jesus’ predatory instincts and a leftfooted finish from Gabriel Martinelli ensured Arsenal’s victory.
The Brazilian pair scored either side of the break to hand Arsenal a deserved triumph as it dominated the match.
Jesus opened the scoring in the 31st minute with Martinelli grabbing the 77thminute winner, three minutes after Villa had equalised through substitute Douglas Luiz.
Liverpool was left celebrating a remarkable comeback win at
Anfield, Fabio Carvalho scoring the winner in the ninth minute of added time with the last kick of the game as it rallied to beat Newcastle United 21.
In the London derby, Tottenham’s 11 draw at West Ham United left it third in the table on 11 points.
Tomas Soucek earned the Hammers a point after an own goal from Thilo Kehrer, who diverted Harry Kane’s low cross into the net, had given the visiting side the lead.
Bournemouth began life without sacked manager Scott Parker with a point as Wolves’ lengthy Premier League winless streak was extended by a goalless draw at Vitality Stadium. — AP