Manchester City's new star Erling Haaland makes dream start in Premier League

Erling Haaland opened his Manchester City account with two goals as the champions beat West Ham 2-0 at the London Stadium.

The £51 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.

"It was good, a good start," Haaland told Sky Sports. "Good to get some minutes in the legs early in the season and we have to keep going.

"As expected we saw the potential against Bayern [Munich in pre season] and it was a bit down against Liverpool. It will come with games, it should have been more today.

“There were some good celebrations so I’m happy. Nice that he [his dad] saw both goals as it is a big moment for me as a debutant in this competition.”

West Ham did look there for the taking, as despite a summer of rebuilding they somehow contrived to start the season with only one fit centre-half.

Within half an hour they had lost goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to injury and it was his replacement, Alphonse Areola, who promptly gave away the penalty.

Yet in a bright start from the hosts Jarrod Bowen had a close-range shot blocked before Michail Antonio headed Aaron Cresswell’s cross narrowly over.

A dream start!