Haaland’s hat-trick sees Manchester City roar back to 4-2 win against Palace

Erling Haaland may have been a bargain even at £100m but to cost Manchester City just north of £50m is a faintly ridiculous price in the definitely ridiculous inflated transfer market. The No 9 scored a scintillating 19-minute hat-trick which featured the equaliser and the goals that sealed victory as Pep Guardiola’s champions came from two behind for a fourth time in the last six competitive games.

The Norwegian’s third was greeted by a Guardiola jig of jubilation and delirium from a home crowd witnessing Haaland’s first ever City strikes at the Etihad and crowned a superb fightback began after Bernardo Silva had led a second half charge by pulling one back.

Before this Crystal Palace had actually beaten Ederson for a third time – to follow John Stones’s own-goal and Joachim Anderson’s header. The City goalkeeper rolled the ball straight to Jordan Ayew via a touch from Odsonne Édouard and Ayew found the net. However, referee Darren England awarded a foul – maybe against high leg from Édouard – but VAR, at least, might have intervened as it appeared legitimate.

While no Palace players complained, after three minutes they had been ecstatic when Eberechi Eze dropped a free-kick into the area that ricocheted off Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker and Stones before going in. Guardiola responded with a shake of the head. His team’s riposte was a phase of keep-ball that featured Walker as an inverted full-back and Haaland leaping to misdirect a header from a corner.

City had their foot on the gas. Referee England waved away a handball shout in Palace’s area, then João Cancelo found Riyad Mahrez who nodded back towards Haaland who knocked Marc Guéhi over in front of goal. The referee did award a foul for this and home boos ensued as