West Ham suffered their second Premier League defeat of the season, losing 3-1 to Manchester City at the London Stadium.
The match, held on Saturday, 31 August, saw Erling Haaland take centre stage with a hat-trick that ultimately condemned the Hammers to defeat.
City struck early, with Haaland finding the back of the net just 10 minutes into the match. However, West Ham responded quickly, equalising nine minutes later courtesy of a Ruben Dias own goal.
Despite this, Julen Lopetegui’s side couldn’t maintain their momentum and were eventually overwhelmed by Haaland’s brilliance.
Haaland completed his hat-trick, ensuring City left East London with all three points. However, there were still positive signs for Lopetegui to take away from the game as he continues to shape his team.
West Ham’s performance was mixed, with individual player ratings reflecting the highs and lows of the match.
Alphonse Areola (Off for Fabianski 46’) – 5: Areola made several crucial saves during the first half, keeping West Ham in the contest. Unfortunately, he was forced off at half-time due to an injury, a significant blow for the Hammers.
Emerson (Off for Coufal 71’) – 5: The left-back had a tough time containing City’s attacking threat. He particularly struggled to deal with Haaland, who capitalised on his defensive lapses to score. Emerson was substituted with 20 minutes remaining.
Max Kilman – 4: Kilman had a challenging afternoon. He picked up a yellow card in the second half and, while he did manage to hold his own against Haaland on a few occasions, the fact that West Ham conceded three goals limited his rating.
Konstantinos Mavropanos – 5: Mavropanos was solid with his passing and won most of his aerial duels, but it wasn’t enough to stop Haaland and City from running riot. His efforts were commendable, but the overall defensive performance left much to be desired.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 7: One of the brighter sparks for West Ham, Wan-Bissaka was dynamic down the right flank, forming a promising partnership with Jarrod Bowen. His performance hinted at what could be one of the best signings of the summer.
Guido Rodriguez – 4: The midfielder struggled to impose himself in the middle of the park, overshadowed by his counterpart Edson Alvarez. Rodriguez picked up a yellow card and couldn’t influence the game as he might have hoped.
Edson Alvarez (Off for Soucek 77’) – 5: Alvarez, like Rodriguez, found it difficult to make an impact against City’s midfield, especially with Rodri absent. He was subbed off late in the game, likely to avoid any injury risk.
Lucas Paqueta – 5: It was a quieter outing for Paqueta, who, despite being comfortable on the ball and winning his duels, failed to make a significant impact. His usual creativity was missing, leaving West Ham short of inspiration in attack.
Mohammed Kudus – 8:
Kudus was West Ham’s standout performer, causing problems for City’s defence with his blistering pace. He was unlucky not to score, hitting the post with one of his efforts. Kudus showed why he could be a key player for the Hammers this season.
Michail Antonio (Off for Niclas Fullkrug 71’) – 4: Antonio struggled to assert himself in the match, with his influence limited. He made a few bursts into the box but was largely ineffective, unable to hold up the ball or bring his teammates into play.
Jarrod Bowen (Off for Crysencio Summerville 86’) – 7: Bowen was involved in some of West Ham’s best moments, including the cross that led to Dias’ own goal. He was a constant threat, but City’s defence ultimately held firm.
Substitutions:
Lukasz Fabianski (On for Areola 46’) – 5: Fabianski came on at half-time but couldn’t do much to prevent City’s goals.
Vladimir Coufal (On for Emerson 71’) – N/A: Coufal was brought on late in the game with little time to make an impact.
Niclas Fullkrug (On for Antonio 71’) – N/A: Fullkrug had limited involvement after his introduction.
Tomas Soucek (On for Alvarez 77’) – N/A: Soucek’s late arrival gave him little opportunity to influence proceedings.
Crysencio Summerville (On for Bowen 86’) – N/A: Summerville was introduced too late to affect the outcome.
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