James Ward-Prowse headed the opening goal in the first half
Jeremy Doku restored balance right after the first half
Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland won all 3 points

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Manchester City recovered from the deficit to maintain their 100% start to the 2023/24 Premier League season with a 3-1 win over West Ham United.

Despite City’s early dominance, it was West Ham who took the lead thanks to the emergence of James Ward-Prowse in the summer after he broke into the box and headed home Vladimir Coufal’s cross.

However, Man City’s response after half-time was swift as Jeremy Doku scored his first goal for the club.

The away team continued to probe after that, eventually West Ham’s resistance was broken by Bernardo Silva. Erling Haaland then added the winning goal for City late on to seal a hard-fought victory for Pep Guardiola’s side, who returned to the top of the table. How the game goes

Can West Ham contain the champions and can they attack them on the counter-attack? This was the key to success for David Moyes’ team on Saturday afternoon.

Initially, it looked like the Hammers were going to die quickly as City came under relentless pressure early in the game, with Haaland spurning a chance that would have seen him score. The Nordic machine would be without another goalkeeper at the end of the half, but that came after West Ham had taken the lead.

The home team entered the game in the 30th minute and took advantage of the lead after turning the ball over and rushing quickly in transitions. Moyes’ men were undeterred by City’s immediate response after the restart as they continued to succeed with counter-attacks and set pieces.

West Ham’s response was superb with both goalkeepers making excellent saves.

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However, City’s pressure was finally evident as West Ham’s backline was penetrated by the magic of Julian Alvarez. Silva scored the go-ahead goal, and the Hammers then looked vulnerable to conceding more, with Haaland scoring the mandatory goal late on to erase any doubts about the result.

West Ham player ratings

GK: Alphonse Areola – 7/10 – A fine showing. While there was some bad performance from crosses, Areola’s shot-stopping was imperious throughout.

RB: Vladimir Coufal – 5/10 – Had tough time defensively playing against Doku, but teed up Ward-Prowse for the opener with a delicate cross.

CB: Kurt Zouma – 7/10 – Stuck to his task well for the most part he came close to handing his side the lead in the second half with a pinpoint header.

CB: Nayef Aguerd – 6/10 – Perhaps should’ve got a goal in the opening exchanges, but there was no energy behind his header. Didn’t cover himself in glory for Bernardo’s goal.

LB: Emerson – 6/10 – Wasn’t very busy, which is a testament to the left-back’s fairly serene showing.

DM: Edson Alvarez – 7/10 – Excellent before he was sent off just after the hour. Alvarez was an established presence at the base of West Ham’s midfield.

RM: Jarrod Bowen – 5/10 – Bowen didn’t have the impact the London Stadium faithful would’ve desired. Just couldn’t insert himself into the game.

CM: Tomas Soucek – 5/10 – It was almost as if he was merely included to provide a set-piece threat and nothing else.

CM: James Ward-Prowse – 7/10 – JWP’s hot streak continued on Saturday as he broke free and heads home West Ham’s opener. Set-piece performance was once again excellent.

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LM: Lucas Paqueta – 7/10 – West Ham grew into the game once Paqueta started to get his foot on the ball. Worked hard out of possession and offered quality when the hosts sought to retain the ball.

ST: Michail Antonio – 5/10 – His chances were reduced, but he had a great chance to give the hosts the lead again in the second half. Shame his touch let him down.

Substitutes

SUB: Mohammed Kudus (67′ for Antonio) – 6/10

SUB: Said Benrahma (68′ for Alvarez) – 5/10

SUB: Danny Ings (86′ for Coufal) – N/A

SUB: Thilo Kehrer (86′ for Soucek) – N/A

Subs not used: Lukasz Fabianski (GK), Aaron Cresswell, Pablo Fornals, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Angelo Ogbonna.

Video credit; 11 eleven 

Manager

David Moyes – 7/10 – It was always going to be a tough task to keep City at bay for the entirity, but West Ham competed well against the best team in the world for large swathes of Saturday’s game.

Man City player ratings (4-3-3)

GK: Ederson – 7/10 – Made a couple of huge interventions in the second half; first charge out to deny Antonio and then stoping Zouma with a fantastic save.

RB: Kyle Walker – 7/10 – Didn’t have much success in a high and wide position, so Guardiola switched his role and brought him inside where he had a greater influence.

CB: Ruben Dias – 7/10 – Standard Dias. Fantastic play in the match.

CB: Manuel Akanji – 6/10 – Couple of times Antonio got the better of him and Akanji gave a corner.

LB: Josko Gvardiol – 6/10 – Stellar in possession, but West Ham had breakthrough down Gvardiol’s flank, especially in the first half.

CM: Rodri – 8/10 – These sorts of displays are simply the majestic norm for the Spaniard through the match.

CM: Bernardo Silva – 7/10 – Wasn’t the most exciting performance of Bernardo showings until he crept in behind a deep West Ham defence and poked the ball beyond Areola to give City the lead.

AM: Julian Alvarez – 8/10 – While Doku was a trouble out wide, City switched to Alvarez to pick the lock in central areas which the Argentine did on multiple occasions. Who needs Kevin De Bruyne?

RW: Phil Foden – 6/10 – Foden had a couple of nice sequences, but the hosts’ compact block made it difficult for him. Removed midway through the second half.

ST: Erling Haaland – 7/10 – After spurning four great chances, Haaland finally got his goal late on.

LW: Jeremy Doku – 8/10 – Turned the ball over for West Ham’s opener, but was a continuous threat throughout and his fine finish restored parity at the start of the second period. Such an fantastic player to watch.

Substitutes

SUB: Matheus Nunes (68′ for Phil Foden) – 6/10

SUB: Sergio Gomez (90′ for Doku) – N/A

SUB: Rico Lewis (95′ for Haaland) – N/A

SUB: Nathan Ake (95′ for Gvardiol) – N/A

SUB: Oscar Bobb: (95′ for Bernardo) – N/A

Subs not used: Scott Carson (GK), Stefan Ortega (GK), Kalvin Phillips.

Manager

Pep Guardiola – 8/10 – City were dominant against a resistant West Ham side, with Pep’s half-time chat perhaps inspiring a Swift response after half-time. Also made a savvy tactical change involved Walker’s positioning.

Player of the match – Jeremy Doku (Man City)