Erling Haaland opened his Manchester City account with two goals as the champions beat West Ham 2-0 at the London Stadium. The £51million (€60 million) summer signing from Borussia Dortmund scored what are likely to be the first of many to get his and City’s season up and running.
It might not have been as explosive a debut as some of his previous ones – Haaland scored a hat-trick on his Champions League bow for Red Bull Salzburg and another treble on his Bundesliga debut for Dortmund.
But a first-half penalty and a fine second-half finish meant it was a hugely satisfying afternoon’s work for Pep Guardiola’s new poster boy as well as the player’s father, Alfie, the former City midfielder who was watching from the stands.
West Ham did look there for the taking, however. Despite a summer of rebuilding they somehow contrived to start the season with only one fit centre-half.