Manchester City delivered an impressive 4-1 win over West Ham, with standout performances from Savinho and Erling Haaland leading the charge. Despite a few nervy moments, the Blues managed to secure back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since October.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Stefan Ortega – 6
Couldn’t be faulted for Niclas Fullkrug’s goal and made key saves in the second half to maintain City’s lead.
Rico Lewis – 7
Showed maturity beyond his years, pushing forward effectively while maintaining defensive discipline. Adapted well to positional switches.
Manuel Akanji – 6
Had a shaky first half and was fortunate to get a foul call when Summerville threatened. Stabilized after the break.
Nathan Ake – 6
Struggled early on against the pace of Summerville and Kudus but held firm. Subbed off before West Ham’s goal.
Josko Gvardiol – 6
More impactful offensively than defensively, but his budding chemistry with Savinho is promising.
Mateo Kovacic – 5
A forgettable outing marked by misplaced passes and a lack of composure. His chaotic play handed West Ham unnecessary opportunities.
Kevin De Bruyne – 6
Marked his 400th appearance with an assist but wasn’t at his commanding best.
Bernardo Silva – 7
Pulled the strings in midfield, linking up smoothly with De Bruyne and Savinho to keep City ticking.
Phil Foden – 6
Mixed bag of brilliance and inconsistency. His goal added polish to a performance that had its highs and lows.
Savinho – 9 (MOTM)
Absolutely electric. Forced the opening goal and served up two pinpoint assists for Haaland. Looks undroppable heading into the season’s crunch period.
Erling Haaland – 8
Clinical as ever with a towering header and a composed finish. Also showcased his underrated link-up play.
SUBSTITUTES:
Ilkay Gundogan (for Kovacic, 61′) – 6
Brought a semblance of control to midfield after Kovacic’s erratic showing.
Kyle Walker (for Ake, 61′) – 6
Caught out for the goal but provided solidity otherwise.
James McAtee (for Savinho, 80′) – N/A
Pressed forward late on but had little time to impact the game.
Jack Grealish (for Haaland, 84′) – N/A
Helped maintain possession in the dying minutes.
Unused: Carson, Simpson-Pusey, O’Reilly, Nunes, Doku
KEY TAKEAWAY:
This was a game where City’s stars shone brightest—Savinho dazzled, Haaland delivered, and Bernardo controlled. However, Kovacic’s struggles and defensive lapses remain areas of concern for Pep Guardiola.
